Only with public finance, enforced contribution limits and possibly expenditure limits would the nation be able to dampen the fundraising pressures on candidates.

CNN: Commentary: Palin, Gingrich, Romney and 2012

As far as public expenditure is concerned, we have said that we are able to finance the frontline services in education and health and policing, and what we've said is for other areas there is so much uncertainty about what's likely to happen to the economy at the moment that we will make these decisions in a spending review at the appropriate time.

BBC: Take your politics too seriously