John Reid, Baron Reid of Cardowan Quotes

It's not my job to manage this department - it's my job to lead this department.

Our system is not fit for purpose. It's inadequate in terms of its scope, it's inadequate in terms of its information technology, leadership, management systems and processes.

Until Roy Hattersley said he would shoot himself if I became prime minister, I had not been able to see any possible advantage in standing.

Leadership isn't a zero sum game. When one of us shines it doesn't diminish the others, it reflects on all of us.

He said he did not believe the Home Office was "intrinsically dysfunctional... but I do believe from time to time it is dysfunctional in the sense it doesn't work".

You don't have to love everything George W. Bush stands for to hate everything that Osama Bin Laden stands for.

It's not Muslims versus the rest of us. It's evil terrorists on one side against all civilised people on the other.

If we in this movement are going to ask the decent, silent majority of Muslim men - and women - to have the courage to face down the extremist bullies, then we need to have the courage and character to stand shoulder to shoulder with them doing it.