David Blunkett

It's not just parliament that requires radical modernisation. It's our democratic processes.

I am not a parliamentarian. I am a politician. Some MPs leave and are itching to get back. I don't feel that. This is just a work environment.

I was affected by the harshness of government, the reality of 16-hour days, and the pressures of modern communications.

Without the political parties and the volunteering work of their members day in, day out, we would have a very different sort of politics and society.

We need to use all the resources at our disposal in order to prosper. We need more employment, and we need employment to be spread more fairly across society.

Being home secretary involves having to face some of the worst of human behaviour and challenges of modern society.

We have a media that presents every politician as being as bad as the next. There is no distinguishing between one good idea or another; no explanation of why constitutional change should be uppermost in the minds of the people I represent.

Nothing is more important for young people than enhancing their life chances, liberating their potential and encouraging their contribution to a globally competitive and modern economy.

But any perception of this application being speeded up requires me to take responsibility.

It would be dangerous territory if I wasn't practising what I preach which is to always accept responsibility, always accept the consequences of your actions.

For six and a half years, I had responsibility for leading the Labour party policy on education and delivering on our promise of improved opportunities for all our children.

We need to reaffirm that politics is not merely compatible with economic progress and development in the 21st century, but essential to it.