The Conservatives in Brighton: Quotes of the Day

I used to be called Barnsley's Mrs Thatcher . . . Now I'm called an old has been - Brenda Hinchcliff, councillor, of Barnsley West and Penistone.

I believe the reason Mrs Thatcher appointed me to the Foreign Office was because I am a passionate anti-federalist - Tristan Garel-Jones, Europhile Minister of State at the Foreign Office, whose name was hissed in Tuesday's Maastricht debate.

I want William Shakespeare in our classrooms, not Ronald McDonald - John Patten, Secretary of State for Education, criticising the use of a hamburger advertisement in a public exam.

So what the heck are you complaining about when John Major has reversed the process? - Michael Heseltine, President of the Board of Trade, replying to a heckler protesting about creeping federalism.

I'm closing down the something-for-nothing society - Peter Lilley, Secretary of State for Social Security, on tracking down social security fraudsters.

Mr Gummer explained that we would be quite content to take the 'butter' out of 'peanut butter' if the Germans would only take the 'milch' out of 'Liebfraumilch' - Norman Lamont, recalling a row in the EC.