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Labour's tragedy is its long-term failure to construct a consistent and coherent theory of government which matches the new reality with the old ethic - Roy Hattersley, Labour's former deputy leader.

In my bones, I don't think the Government is going to get through the next year - Paddy Ashdown, Liberal Democrat leader.

It is becoming daily more apparent that the British government has no intention whatsoever of advancing or, indeed, of maintaining the peace process in Ireland - Mitchel McLaughlin, chairman of Sinn Fein.

The law today, at least in criminal cases, uses all its enormous intellectual power to weigh down on those who get caught. But they are rarely the really important criminals inextricably ingrained in the structure of society - Peter Ustinov.

I used to think that maybe drink had destroyed my life, but that was dramatic nonsense and temporary gloom. Without alcohol I could have been a shop assistant, a business executive or a lone bachelor bank clerk - Jeffrey Bernard.

I don't believe you have to be religious or Christian to be good - the Archbishop of Canterbury.