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Roy Jenkins

88 quotes

• “It was better to have a somewhat harsh Budget, which would cure inflation, rather than a generous, popular Budget which would merely undermine the purchasing power of the pound.”

  Roy Jenkins (1920–2003) first seen 1948 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: Maiden speech in the House of Commons (3 June 1948)

• “Future nationalisations will be more concerned with equality than with planning, and this means that we can leave the monolithic public corporation behind us and look for more intimate forms of ownership and control.”

  Roy Jenkins (1920–2003) first seen 1951 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: Fair Shares for the Rich (Tribune, 1951), p. 16

• “Neutrality is essentially a conservative policy, a policy of defeat, of announcing to the world that we have nothing to say to which the world will listen. ... Neutrality could never be acceptable to anyone who believes that he has a universal faith to preach. And those countries which have successfully adopted it in the past have paid the price of becoming little islands full of frustrated hedonists. Switzerland and Sweden are as ideologically sterile as they are physically undevastated.”

  Roy Jenkins (1920–2003) first seen 1953 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: Pursuit of Progress (Heinemann, 1953), pp. 44–45

• “It is quite impossible to advocate both the abolition of great inequalities of wealth and the acceptance of a one-quarter public sector and three-quarters private sector arrangement. A mixed economy there will undoubtedly be, certainly for many decades and perhaps permanently, but it will need to be mixed in very different proportions from this.”

  Roy Jenkins (1920–2003) first seen 1953 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: Pursuit of Progress (Heinemann, 1953), p. 96

• “The first duty of a party of the left is to be radical in the context of the moment, to offer the prospect of continuing advance, and to preserve the loyalty of those whose optimistic humanism makes them its natural supporters.”

  Roy Jenkins (1920–2003) first seen 1953 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: Pursuit of Progress (Heinemann, 1953), p. 161

• “Representative democracy demands a clear division of function between the electors and the elected. The former choose their representatives and retain the essential right of sacking them, if they are not satisfied with their work, at the end of a fixed period. But in the meantime the elected representatives, whether they are members of Parliament or city councillors, should be given full freedom to do their jobs. Any form of referendum is an infringement of this freedom, and the more complex and detailed the issue upon which it is held the more absurd an infringement it becomes.”

  Roy Jenkins (1920–2003) first seen 1954 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: Letter to The Times with Henry Usborne (22 January 1954), p. 7

• “It is hard to understand why an attempt to get more of the national product for those who at present get least is to be dismissed as pandering to envy, while an attempt to tilt it the other way by securing more concessions for the discontented Conservative electors of Tonbridge is not denounced as rapacity, and why the one is manifestly more worthy than the other.”

  Roy Jenkins (1920–2003) first seen 1956 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: Letter to The Times (23 July 1956), p. 9

• “Suez was a totally unsuccessful attempt to achieve unreasonable and undesirable objectives by methods which were at once reckless and immoral; and the consequences, as was well deserved, were humiliating and disastrous.”

  Roy Jenkins (1920–2003) first seen 1959 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: The Labour Case (Penguin, 1959), p. 14

• “Let us be on the side of those who want people to be free to live their own lives, to make their own mistakes, and to decide, in an adult way and provided they do not infringe the rights of others, the code by which they wish to live; and on the side of experiment and brightness, of better buildings and better food, of better music (jazz as well as Bach) and better books, of fuller lives and greater freedom. In the long run these things will be more important than the most perfect of economic policies.”

  Roy Jenkins (1920–2003) first seen 1959 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: The Labour Case (Penguin, 1959), p. 146

• “We exist to change society. We are not likely to be very successful if we are horrified at any suggestion of changing ourselves. One of the things from which we are suffering is a misplaced national complacency: a belief that we do things better than anyone else. Do not let us be too afraid, as a Labour Party, of learning from some of our friends abroad. Parties all over the world have been modernizing themselves. There are only two unreconstructed socialist parties in the world—the French and the Australian. Do not let us be too conservative, complacent, and insular.”

  Roy Jenkins (1920–2003) first seen 1960 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: Speech to the Labour Party Conference in Scarborough (6 October 1960) in favour of revising Clause IV, quoted in The Times (7 October 1960), p. 20

• “It would be a mistake to think...that by what we are doing tonight we are giving a vote of confidence or congratulation to homosexuality. Those who suffer from this disability carry a great weight of loneliness, guilt and shame. The crucial question, which we are nearly at the end of answering decisively, is, should we add to those disadvantages the full rigour of the criminal law? By its overwhelming decisions, the House has given a fairly clear answer, and I hope that the Bill will now make rapid progress towards the Statute Book. It will be an important and civilising Measure.”

  Roy Jenkins (1920–2003) first seen 1967 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: Speech in the House of Commons in favour of the Bill decriminalising homosexuality (3 July 1967).

• “It is not some malevolent quirk of international bankers which makes the balance of payments surplus necessary. It is the hard facts of life. Quite a few of the resolutions mention the need to get rid of the shackles of international finance. These shackles can be exaggerated. If you want less to do with bankers and fewer International Monetary Fund visits the answer is straightforward: Help us to get out of debt. It is no good urging independence and denying policies to that end.”

  Roy Jenkins (1920–2003) first seen 1968 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: Speech to the Labour Party Conference in Blackpool (30 September 1968), quoted in The Times (1 October 1968), p. 6

• “In these circumstances it is essential we should be able to speak with sanity and authority in world monetary affairs. You cannot do this from a position of perpetual deficit.”

  Roy Jenkins (1920–2003) first seen 1968 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: Speech to the Labour Party Conference in Blackpool (30 September 1968), quoted in The Times (1 October 1968), p. 6

• “[The "permissive society" had been allowed to become a dirty phrase.] A better phrase is the 'civilized society', based on the belief that different individuals will wish to make different decisions about their patterns of behaviour and that, provided these do not restrict the freedom of others, they should be allowed to do so within a framework of understanding and tolerance. ... And the idea that our moderate progress towards giving the individual greater freedom from the law in matters of social conduct is responsible for the troubles of modern society is plain nonsense.”

  Roy Jenkins (1920–2003) first seen 1969 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: Speech in Abingdon, Berkshire (19 July 1969), quoted in The Times (21 July 1969), p. 3

• “One of the central purposes of democratic socialism was to extend throughout the community the opportunity of freedom of choice which used to be the prerogative of the few.”

  Roy Jenkins (1920–2003) first seen 1969 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: Speech to the Labour Party Conference in Brighton (1 October 1969), quoted in The Times (2 October 1969), p. 1

• “Three years ago it [public opinion] was strongly in favour of entry [into the EEC]. It may change again...and in any case I do not believe that it is always the duty of those who seek to lead to follow public opinion.”

  Roy Jenkins (1920–2003) first seen 1971 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: Speech in Birmingham (18 June 1971), quoted in The Times (19 June 1971), p. 1

• “At conference the only alternative [to the EEC] we heard was 'socialism in one country'. That is always good for a cheer. Pull up the drawbridge and revolutionize the fortress. That's not a policy either: it's just a slogan, and it is one which becomes not merely unconvincing but hypocritical as well when it is dressed up as our best contribution to international socialism.”

  Roy Jenkins (1920–2003) first seen 1971 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: Speech to the Parliamentary Labour Party (19 July 1971), quoted in The Times (20 July 1971), p. 4

• “In spite of half a century of effort, our society—and still more our world—is still disfigured by gross unfairness. ... Concern is indivisible and so is selfishness. A society which says 'to hell with famine and disease in Bangladesh, it's all their own fault, isn't it?' is extremely unlikely to balance this with compassion and justice for its own pensioners and its own low-paid.”

  Roy Jenkins (1920–2003) first seen 1972 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: Speech in Worsley, Lancashire (11 March 1972), quoted in The Times (13 March 1972), p. 4

• “The next Labour Government can be content with nothing less than the elimination of poverty as a social problem. ... The Labour movement was created to fight against a wealthy minority on behalf of a poor majority. Now it has a more complex and demanding task. It has to enlist the majority in a struggle on behalf of a poor minority, who on grounds of age or health or family circumstances or disgracefully low pay are unable to help themselves. No one has a right to expect a fair deal for himself unless he is prepared to work for one for others too.”

  Roy Jenkins (1920–2003) first seen 1972 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: Speech in Worsley, Lancashire (11 March 1972), quoted in The Times (13 March 1972), p. 4

• “It is not much good talking about fundamental and irreversible changes in our society and being content with a 38 per cent Labour voting intention. ... Democracy means that you need a substantially stronger moral position than this to govern effectively at all, let alone effecting a peaceful social revolution. The programme we put forward must be capable of being carried out in what may well be difficult economic circumstances.”

  Roy Jenkins (1920–2003) first seen 1973 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: Speech to the Labour Party Conference debate on nationalisation (2 October 1973), quoted in The Times (3 October 1973), p. 5

• “...one should not doubt that there is in Britain a great body of moderate, rather uncommitted opinion, and that unless substantial sections of such opinion can feel happy in supporting one or other of the major parties the result will be an intolerable strain upon the traditional pattern of politics. ... The stalemate will not be broken unless and until we can move over to the Labour Party a sizable part of this potentially progressive, but non-extreme opinion. I do not think that has happened yet.”

  Roy Jenkins (1920–2003) first seen 1974 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: Speech to the Pembrokeshire Constituency Labour Party in Haverfordwest (26 July 1974), quoted in The Times (27 July 1974), p. 3

• “If we are to get through the immense problems of the next few years we need to heal and not to deepen the wounds of the nation. That can, I believe, be done upon the basis of party government. ... But it cannot be done upon the basis of ignoring middle opinion and telling everyone who does not agree with you to go to hell.”

  Roy Jenkins (1920–2003) first seen 1974 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: Speech to the Pembrokeshire Constituency Labour Party in Haverfordwest (26 July 1974), quoted in The Times (27 July 1974), p. 3

• “...it must be clear that a future Labour Government intends to keep Britain fully part of the Western community of nations. ... Today there is a greater danger of that community falling apart than at any time since 1947. ... I myself believe that the threat of such a breakup would be greatly exacerbated by our withdrawal from Europe. ... There is no future for an isolationist Britain. If anyone wants a Britain poised uneasily between the Western alliance and the Communist block they can in the immortal words of Mr Sam Goldwyn "include me out".”

  Roy Jenkins (1920–2003) first seen 1974 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: Speech to the Pembrokeshire Constituency Labour Party in Haverfordwest (26 July 1974), quoted in The Times (27 July 1974), p. 3

• “I am in favour of sensible, well argued extensions of public ownership. ... But I am also in favour of a healthy, vigorous and profitable private sector. We do and shall depend upon it to provide a great part of our jobs, our exports and our production. And if we allow a mood of sullen uncertainty to build up in that sector we shall lose more than we shall gain by the sensible and necessary extension of the public sector.”

  Roy Jenkins (1920–2003) first seen 1974 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: Speech to the Pembrokeshire Constituency Labour Party in Haverfordwest (26 July 1974), quoted in The Times (27 July 1974), p. 3

• “We must restore some stability and be prepared, if necessary, to make some sacrifices, both of dogma and materialism, to achieve it. There is no point in pretending that we are not facing an economic crisis without precedent since the growth of post-war prosperity.”

  Roy Jenkins (1920–2003) first seen 1974 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: Speech to the Pembrokeshire Constituency Labour Party in Haverfordwest (26 July 1974), quoted in The Times (27 July 1974), p. 3

• “What makes you think I care about my political career? All that matters to me is what is happening in the world, which I think is heading for disaster. I can't stand by and see us pretend everything is all right when I know we are heading for catastrophe. It isn't only Europe. It is a question of whether this country is going to cut itself off from the Western Alliance and go isolationist.”

  Roy Jenkins (1920–2003) first seen 1974 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: Remarks to Barbara Castle (30 July 1974), quoted in Barbara Castle, The Castle Diaries, 1974–76 (Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1980), pp. 159–160

• “[I] could not stay in a Cabinet which had to carry out withdrawal [from the EEC].”

  Roy Jenkins (1920–2003) first seen 1974 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: Remark (26 September 1974), quoted in The Times (27 September 1974), p. 1

• “Inflation in Britain is at an unacceptable level. It is now mostly home-induced and wage-induced. It is moving well out of line with that of the rest of the world. If it goes on doing so it will ruin us as a nation, both economically and politically. It is of a different order from any of our other difficulties. It is, quite simply, our biggest menace since Hitler.”

  Roy Jenkins (1920–2003) first seen 1975 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: Hugh Anderson Memorial lecture at the Cambridge Union (28 February 1975), quoted in The Times (1 March 1975), p. 2

• “Not to have gone into Europe would, in my view, have been a misfortune. But to come out would be on an altogether greater scale of self-inflicted injury. It would be a catastrophe. ... I care very much about the influence of Britain in the world, and also about our capacity to control our own destiny. To me, that is much more important than the legalistic definition of sovereignty.”

  Roy Jenkins (1920–2003) first seen 1975 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: Speech at the St Ermin's Hotel, Westminster (26 March 1975), quoted in The Times (27 March 1975), p. 8

• “Were we to leave [the EEC], the worst damage would be done to ourselves. But not only damage. Western unity, at a time of great international danger, is under greater strain than at any time since it was put together in the aftermath of the war a generation ago. Were we to start to disengage, the whole delicate but precious structure might begin to fall apart.”

  Roy Jenkins (1920–2003) first seen 1975 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: Speech at the St Ermin's Hotel, Westminster (26 March 1975), quoted in The Times (27 March 1975), p. 8

• “The myths about the evils of the [European] Community grow ever more manifold as day passes day. We are told that it would prevent any advance of public ownership. What happened to British Leyland during the past two days? The truth is almost the reverse. It is not the change of ownership which is threatened by staying in, it is the basic plan for buttressing and rejuvenating British Leyland and saving the jobs which go with it which would be fatally undermined by coming out.”

  Roy Jenkins (1920–2003) first seen 1975 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: Speech to the Labour Party conference on Britain's membership of the EEC (26 April 1975), quoted in The Times (28 April 1975), p. 4

• “He could not regard the question of sovereignty as the ark of the covenant of socialism. It was neither socialist nor realistic to think one could have sovereignty in the world of today. "We live in an integrated world and our duty is to play our part in that with our neighbours. I distrust people who proclaim their love for humanity but illustrate it by being unable to get on with those around them.”

  Roy Jenkins (1920–2003) first seen 1975 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: Speech to the Labour Party conference on Britain's membership of the EEC (26 April 1975), quoted in The Times (28 April 1975), p. 4

• “I find it increasingly difficult to take Mr Benn seriously as an economics minister.”

  Roy Jenkins (1920–2003) first seen 1975 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: Britain in Europe press conference (27 May 1975), quoted in The Times (28 May 1975), p. 3

• “I do not think you can push public expenditure significantly above 60 per cent [of GNP] 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.”

  Roy Jenkins (1920–2003) first seen 1976 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: Speech in Anglesey (23 January 1976), quoted in The Times (24 January 1976), p. 2

• “...be prepared first to look at the evidence and to recognize how little the widespread use of prison reduces our crime or deals effectively with many of the individuals concerned. [The rule of law does not mean] our own pet prejudices. It means, in a democratic society, the law as passed by an elected Parliament and applied by impartial courts. You cannot have a rule of law while dismissing with disparagement Parliament, the courts and those who practise in them. That is not the rule of law. It is exactly what the pressure groups you complain about seek to achieve by demonstration.”

  Roy Jenkins (1920–2003) first seen 1976 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: Speech to the Police Federation conference in Eastbourne (18 May 1976), quoted in The Times (19 May 1976), p. 5

• “I respect your right to put them to me. You will no doubt respect my right to tell you that I do not think all the points in sum amount to a basis for a rational penal policy.”

  Roy Jenkins (1920–2003) first seen 1976 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: Speech to the Police Federation conference in Eastbourne (18 May 1976) regarding the Federation's campaign on law and order, quoted in The Times (19 May 1976), p. 5

• “My wish is to build an effective united Europe. Now I've never sought absolutely to define exactly what I mean by this, but I've got an absolute clear sense of direction. I've never been frightened about the pace being too fast, I have been frightened about the pace being too slow. I do not think it's terribly useful to lay down blueprints as to whether one will be federal or confederal in the year 2000 and beyond. I want to move towards a more effectively organized Europe politically and economically and as far as I am concerned I want to go faster, not slower.”

  Roy Jenkins (1920–2003) first seen 1977 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: Interview with The Times (5 January 1977), p. 8

• “There has always been a left, an extreme left, in the Labour Party. ... there is now more of an attempt, patchy, but an attempt by extremist organizations to infiltrate and work through the Labour Party at the present time—the phrase is 'entryism'. It is something which is certainly there and which one certainly has to beware of.”

  Roy Jenkins (1920–2003) first seen 1977 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: Interview with The Times (5 January 1977), p. 8

• “If one looks at the evolution of Europe, you can say we've got a customs union, we've got the common agricultural policy, we've got certain other forms of integration and cohesion, but many of the hopes of the founding fathers are still very far from being realized.”

  Roy Jenkins (1920–2003) first seen 1977 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: Interview with The Times (5 January 1977), p. 8

• “We must relaunch with a newly defined relevance to the circumstances of the late 1970s the drive towards economic and monetary union. We must find ways of avoiding recourse to the danger of psuedo-solutions of national protectionism to threats to sensitive sectors of the economy.”

  Roy Jenkins (1920–2003) first seen 1977 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: Speech in Brussels (7 October 1977), quoted in The Times (8 October 1977), p. 4

• “Do we really believe that we have been more effectively and coherently governed over the past two decades than have the Germans, with their very sensible system of proportional representation? The avoidance of incompatible coalitions? Do we really believe that the last Labour Government was not a coalition, in fact if not in name, and a pretty incompatible one at that? I served in it for half its life, and you could not convince me of anything else.”

  Roy Jenkins (1920–2003) first seen 1979 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: The Richard Dimbleby Lecture ('Home Thoughts from Abroad') (22 November 1979), quoted in The Times (23 November 1979), p. 5

• “During this conversation she vouchsafed her only awareness of Dimbleby. The Belgian Prime Minister was justifying his hesitancy about cruise missiles by citing his coalition difficulties. Mrs Thatcher turned to me with a mixture of belligerence, good humour and total self-satisfaction and announced to a slightly bewildered table – none of them elected by the British system – "And that is all your great schemes would amount to.”

  Roy Jenkins (1920–2003) first seen 1977 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: Diary entry recording the Council of Ministers meeting in Dublin (29 November 1979), quoted in Roy Jenkins, European Diary, 1977–1981 (1989), p. 529

• “Many of the early nationalisation measures were right. They have remained part of the social fabric. I favour measures of that type.”

  Roy Jenkins (1920–2003) first seen 1982 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: Speech in the House of Commons (Hansard, 10th November 1982, Col. 579)

• “Oh, Socialism! I haven't used that word for years. If you mean nationalizing the means of production, distribution and exchange... That leads to disaster. I mean, just look at Poland!”

  Roy Jenkins (1920–2003) first seen 1983 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: Interview with John Mortimer, quoted in John Mortimer, In Character (1983), p. 146

• “We had our liberal hour, when we passed the Sexual Offences Act which stopped all homosexuals being criminals. I'm not ashamed of that. We mustn't slip back into illiberal attitudes. You see, there are two strands in the Labour Party. The libertarian strand and the authoritarian puritan strand. By and large, the libertarians have come with us and the others have stayed behind.”

  Roy Jenkins (1920–2003) first seen 1983 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: Interview with John Mortimer, quoted in John Mortimer, In Character (1983), p. 147

• “The whole spirit and outlook of the [SDP] party, its leaders and its members must be profoundly opposed to Thatcherism. It could not go along with the fatalism of the Government's acceptance of massive unemployment.”

  Roy Jenkins (1920–2003) first seen 1984 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: First Tawney Lecture (11 July 1984), quoted in The Times (13 July 1984), p. 2

• “A rolling back of the frontiers of State surveillance is necessary. ... I have come to the conclusion that this side of MI5 has become more trouble than it is worth. It falls over its own feet too often. It arouses more suspicion and complaint than is justified by the results its achieves. ... On grounds of utility I would now close down the political side of its activities.”

  Roy Jenkins (1920–2003) first seen 1985 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: Letter to The Times (12 March 1985), p. 15

• “It is the duty of the state to lean firmly but unvindictively in favour of greater equality.”

  Roy Jenkins (1920–2003) first seen 1987 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: Speech in the House of Commons (18 March 1987)

• “In retrospect we might have been more cautious about allowing the creation in the 1950s of substantial Muslim communities here, although when one observes the, in some ways, greater problems which France and Germany have in this respect, it is an illusion to believe that in the integrated world of today any major country can remain exclusively indigenous.”

  Roy Jenkins (1920–2003) first seen 1989 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: 'On Race Relations and the Rushdie Affair', The Independent Magazine (4 March 1989), p. 16, quoted in Elham Manea, Women and Shari'a Law: The Impact of Legal Pluralism in the UK (I.B. Tauris, 2016), p. 256.

• “...my natural prejudices, such as they are, are much more green than orange. I am a poor unionist, believing intuitively that even Paisley and Haughey are better at dealing with each other than the English are with either.”

  Roy Jenkins (1920–2003) first seen 1993 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: Portraits and Miniatures: Selected Writings (London: Macmillan, 1993), pp. 310–311.

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