Norman Lamont quotes

Rising unemployment and the recession have been the price that we have had to pay to get inflation down. That price is well worth paying. (Norman Lamont)
The green shoots of economic spring are appearing once again. View quote
Norman Lamont
What is the right exchange rate at one point is not necessarily the right exchange rate at another. View quote
Norman Lamont
John Pienaar (BBC reporter): Which do you regret more, singing in the bath when forced to withdraw from the ERM, or talking prematurely of green shoots last autumn? Norman Lamont: I.. Je ne regrette rien. View quote
Norman Lamont
My wife said she'd never heard me singing in the bath until last week. View quote
Norman Lamont
As a result of uncertainties caused by the French referendum, massive speculative flows have continued to disrupt the functioning of the exchange rate mechanism. As Chairman of Ecofin I have tonight called an urgent meeting of the EC's monetary committee to consider how stability might be restored to the markets over the next few days. In the meantime the Government has decided that Britain's best interests would be best secured by suspending our membership of the ERM with immediate effect. As a result, the second of the two interest rate rises announced today will not take effect. View quote
Norman Lamont
There are going to be no devaluations, no leaving the ERM. We are absolutely committed to the ERM. It is at the centre of our policy. We are going to maintain sterling's parity and we will do whatever is necessary, and I hope there is no doubt about that at all. View quote
Norman Lamont
Jonathan Ross: Good to see you - how's it hanging? Julian Clary: Oh, very well thank you. Very nice of you to recreate Hampstead Heath for me here [laughter]. As a matter of fact, I've just been fisting Norman Lamont ... [prolonged laughter] Ross: Let me ask you Julian ... Clary: Talk about a red box. View quote
Norman Lamont
There is something wrong with the way in which we make our decisions. The Government listen too much to the pollsters and the party managers. The trouble is that they are not even very good at politics, and they are entering too much into policy decisions. As a result, there is too much short-termism, too much reacting to events, and not enough shaping of events. We give the impression of being in office but not in power. View quote
Norman Lamont