On the back benches, you can have your say but no power to do anything.

I have always had a keen interest in defence and military history and read more on this subject than anything else.

If you stand at an election and put a manifesto in front of people saying you're going to improve health care, you have to stick by that.

As the Chief of the Defence Staff says, you don't defend on the goal line. Defending the interests of the U.K. means tackling threats early and at source, and that means intervening overseas.

I'll tell you what I do have: I have a good feel for ordinary people, for politics, and those are my strengths. I understand, I hope instinctively, where many of our Armed Forces come from.

Do your best when no one is looking. If you do that, then you can be successful in anything that you put your mind to.