I was brought up in a house where I was so aware of a life that had been broken by politics and conflict. Michael Portillo Read Quote
My father was possessed of an extraordinary romantic idealism, an unwavering belief in certain principles. He was always talking about the past. Always. Of course, it has a powerful effect on me. Michael Portillo Read Quote
British-built railways in India helped the British to make money and maintain order and, as a by-product, served to unite the country, ripe for independence. Michael Portillo Read Quote
My grandfather was a great advocate of Scottish art at a time when Scottish artists struggled to be taken seriously. They were not highly regarded, but he fought for them, befriended them, and championed them. Michael Portillo Read Quote
To be in the media is to be in the wings. Being in politics is being on the stage. Michael Portillo Read Quote
In some of the estates, there are generations of people who have been without work, so the environment and the example passed down generations is the normality of being without work. Michael Portillo Read Quote
Leaving politics was a good thing. I was spared a miserable Tory government where I might have ended up as leader. Michael Portillo Read Quote
As a politician, I spent a lot of time in Washington and New York, cities that are familiar to Europeans. Michael Portillo Read Quote
