I was really lucky that I came to puberty at a time when music and politics were completely intertwined.

Of course there are regrets. I shall regret always that I found my own authentic voice in politics. I was too conservative, too conventional. Too safe, too often. Too defensive. Too reactive. Later, too often on the back foot.

The sight of allegedly sophisticated politicians parroting complete tripe trivialises and demeans government and it has to be stopped. It's played a significant part in public disillusionment with politics and has led to the absurd situation where more people vote for 'Strictly Come Dancing' than voted in the general election.

Yeah, exactly, you can talk about politics in music, you can talk about something else, but that's always going to change, and love is never going to change.

I care about politics just like any other citizen. I'm against the war in Iraq, or any type of war.