DENNIS SKINNER

Tell the House of Lords to go to hell.

I've never bothered about what people say about me.

I didn't know when Parliament started to pay my wages.

We're allowed to say wonderful things about the Royal Family in the House of Commons. What you're not allowed to say is: anything that might be truthful, but that might upset them. So from time to time I've been pulled up because I've said things which I think are important.

If I am doing a speech at a Labour party meeting - I think I have done every constituency - I'll look for a happy face, and talk to that face. In the Commons, with all the anger, I'll fix on a blank panel above their heads.

I've never made a perfect speech or a perfect anything. I always think after, I should have done it that way or this way.

I'm up at the crack of dawn.

I'm not going to be putting my expenses on the Internet. I wouldn't know how.

Isn't it essential in any prelude to a war to be sure of your allies and be sure of your objectives?

I remember arguing with kids on the street who were talking about Santa Claus. I said don't be so daft - Santa Claus doesn't come down our chimney. He's an economic Santa Claus; he goes down chimneys where they've got money.

I don't think you should celebrate age.

I've never been to a dinner that's laid on anywhere. I don't want to waste what few hours I've got.

I was cycling until I was 68. I used to play football, cricket, tennis, table tennis. I was into road walking - heel and toe.

I did marathons long before they were popular, when people running round the streets were looked at oddly.

I remember at one time there were 44 mining MPs.

If I'd not been a coal miner in the past, getting up very early, I wouldn't have been able to have done what I've been doing.

I worked in the pit for more than 20 years and never had a serious injury.

I still think carefully about what I'm going to say. I use me heart and head technique, in which the heart says, 'get stuck in, Dennis!', and the head says, 'just a minute... ' But I probably don't use this as often as some others.

We have all lost before and we will win again.

There are fads in life and old people indulge things to excess sometimes.

I've never sent an email to anybody. I believe in keeping the postman in work.

I do rely on my instincts a lot and my imagination.

Parties are organised happiness but happiness is accidental. You can't legislate for it.

I don't believe in organised happiness.

I am naturally disciplined. It started early; you can't be all free and easy in a family of 10.