Years ago nobody was elected on the economic ticket. It was either the education platform, or it was health or it was other issues. It is only recently that economic values have superceded every other human value.

The education cuts in the President's budget are both irresponsible and morally unjustifiable.

I hope to focus on what I'm passionate about because I think I'd do them best job on them - education, urban education, women and children's issues and literacy.

I don't think of myself as a policy expert. I think education is the most important thing.

My father made sure that I had lots of levels of education - from ballroom-dancing to painting, commando training, theatre and magic.