27 Quotes by Roy Jenkins

The permissive society has been allowed to become a dirty phrase. A better phrase is the civilised society.

We must not expect a full-scale peaceful revolution every time a Labour Government is elected.

A social democratic party without deep roots in the working class movement would quickly fade into an unrepresentative intellectual sect.

The most moving speech I have ever heard was Hugh Gaitskell saying he would ’fight, fight and fight again to save the party we love. That was the right message in 1960, and I believe it is still the right message today.

There is a lot of talk about a centre party – and that I might lead it. I find this idea profoundly unattractive.

A substantial extension of public ownership is an essential pre-requisite of greater equality of earned income.

I do not think you can push public expenditure significantly above 60 per cent and maintain the values of a plural society with adequate freedom of choice. We are here close to one of the frontiers of social democracy.

The great disadvantage of our present electoral system is that it freezes the pattern of politics, and holds together the incompatible because everyone assumes that if a party splits it will be electorally slaughtered.

The Labour Party is and always has been an instinctive part of my life.