Andrew Neil

You know, Rupert Murdoch I've said is like an Italian when it comes to negotiations.

The Sun' and the 'News of the World' fell in line behind New Labour in the run up to the 1997 election, 'The Times' stayed broadly neutral and 'The Sunday Times' unenthusiastically Tory. After the election, 'The Times' quickly fell in line as the New Labour house journal.

That's the only time when newspapers have some influence, when they are pushing the British public in a direction they are already minded to go.

Well, one person whose company I enjoy is Charlie Whelan. He and I get on really well together.

People know more about my views than they do about most BBC presenters because I had a life before becoming a BBC presenter.

I never set out to get married and the way things have worked out I never have.

You don't really appreciate how much you are going to miss your parents. I keep thinking of all the times I should have made the effort to go up and see them but didn't.

If 'Spectator Business' works, we will continue this brand extension strategy and look at everything from 'Spectator Arts' to 'Spectator Style and Travel' or 'Spectator Connoisseur.'

The Sunday paper is an odd British cultural tradition.

When one English person speaks, another one immediately classifies him. No class system in the world is so audible, which is also why it is so pernicious and enduring.

The old Establishment has always preserved its position by not being too exclusive - it has been wily enough to absorb the up-and-coming and convert them to their attitudes and mannerisms.

The Scotsman' is a cheerleader for devolution.

I spend a lot of time in New York.

Look, I don't want to edit the 'Scotsman.' I have too many other things going on. I have four newspapers to run and two dot com companies going gangbusters.

You have to live and breathe Scotland if you're 'Scotsman' editor.

I'm not arguing for a return to the grammar school system, but there must be a way of identifying bright kids from ordinary backgrounds and giving them a world-class education.

The Margaret Thatchers of this country made it through - like I did - because of the grammar school system, which gave the opportunity of a lifetime to working-class kids. It put them on a level playing field with the privately educated kids, and opened up the top universities to them.

Newspapers are what matter in this country, not magazines.

There's a substantial difference between dumping 100 copies of the 'Telegraph' at a Connex South Central station and giving away copies of the 'Business' with the 'Mail on Sunday.' 'This kind of circulation is valuable and enhances the brand. Leaving them anywhere willy-nilly devalues the brand.

I am not an insider - definitely not... but I don't think you could call me an outsider.