Biography

We're all in this together.

I've said with the 50p rate I don't see that as a lasting tax rate for Britain because it's very uncompetitive internationally, and people frankly can move. What is it actually raising? It's only been in operation for a year this tax, put in place by the last government. I've asked the Inland Revenue to assess what the revenues are actually from this 50p tax rate, whether it's raising money or not. Since people don't send their self-assessment forms back until the end of the year we won't be able to get that assessment until the end of the year or more likely the beginning of next year, but we are going to do that assessment. But I would just say - because it will lead people to say 'are we making sure that better off people in our society make a contribution?' - we have increased capital gains tax, introduced for the first time in our history a permanent bank tax and I'm taking very tough action on tax avoidance.

[to Labour's Ed Balls] Getting a lesson from you in how to balance the books is like getting a lesson from Dracula in how to look after a blood bank. It really is the most extraordinary situation you find yourself in.

I was instinctively always a Conservative. There is something vaguely sinister about Labour, people knowing their place, the class structure, the government directing the people from the centre. I am a great believer in freedom, opportunities and people going as far as they can.

[on changing his name from Gideon to George at age 13] It was my small act of rebellion. I never liked it. When I finally told my mother she said, 'Nor do I.' So I decided to be George after my grandfather, who was a war hero. Life was easier as a George, it was a straightforward name.