Top 21 Quotes & Sayings by Roy Jenkins

Explore popular quotes and sayings by a British politician Roy Jenkins.

Last updated on April 14, 2025.

Roy Harris Jenkins, Baron Jenkins of Hillhead, was a British politician who served as President of the European Commission from 1977 to 1981. At various times a Member of Parliament (MP) for the Labour Party, Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the Liberal Democrats, he was Chancellor of the Exchequer and Home Secretary under the Wilson and Callaghan Governments.

British - Politician | November 11, 1920 - January 5, 2003

Source: Wikipedia

The Labour Party is and always has been an instinctive part of my life.

Roy Jenkins

The permissive society has been allowed to become a dirty phrase. A better phrase is the civilised society.

Roy Jenkins

I am sure Mr Heath thinks he is honest but I wish he didn't have to have his friends say it so often.

Roy Jenkins

A social democratic party without deep roots in the working class movement would quickly fade into an unrepresentative intellectual sect.

Roy Jenkins

The great disadvantage of our present electoral system is that it freezes the pattern of politics, and holds together the incompatible because everyone assumes that if a party splits it will be electorally slaughtered.

Roy Jenkins

We must not expect a full-scale peaceful revolution every time a Labour Government is elected.

Roy Jenkins

There are always great dangers in letting the best be the enemy of the good.

Roy Jenkins

The Labour Party is and always has been an instinctive part of my life

Roy Jenkins

I therefore believe that the politics of the left and centre of this country are frozen in an out-of-date mould which is bad for the political and economic health of Britain and increasingly inhibiting for those who live within the mould. Can it be broken?

Roy Jenkins

There is a lot of talk about a centre party - and that I might lead it. I find this idea profoundly unattractive

Roy Jenkins

A social democratic party without deep roots in the working class movement would quickly fade into an unrepresentative intellectual sect

Roy Jenkins

A substantial extension of public ownership is an essential pre-requisite of greater equality of earned income

Roy Jenkins

Each successive Labour Government has been the most rapacious, doctrinaire and unpatriotic conspiracy to be seen this side of the Iron Curtain.

Roy Jenkins

The fact is that Harold Wilson is a person no one can like, a person without friends.

Roy Jenkins

I do not think you can push public expenditure significantly above 60 per cent 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

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

Roy Jenkins

Inheritance Tax; - it is, broadly speaking; a voluntary levy paid by those who distrust their heirs more than they dislike the Inland Revenue

Roy Jenkins

The permissive society has been allowed to become a dirty phrase. A better phrase is the civilised society

Roy Jenkins

The most moving speech I have ever heard was Hugh Gaitskell saying he would 'fight, fight and fight again to save the party we love. That was the right message in 1960, and I believe it is still the right message today.

Roy Jenkins

We must not expect a full-scale peaceful revolution every time a Labour Government is elected

Roy Jenkins

Top 21 Quotes & Sayings by Roy Jenkins

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