"I am both delighted and humbled to receive the award of first Honorary Member of the Chartered Institute of Linguists."
"Languages have been a large part of my life both as a lawyer and a politician but I would never pretend to be a professional linguist. That is why my acceptance of this honour is very much in my role as the President of ITI and therefore on behalf of all our members who work as professional linguists. For members of the Chartered Institute of Linguists and the Institute of Translation and Interpreting the attainment of a Royal Charter represents a huge advance and delivers richly deserved recognition of the profession. It is apt that our institutes should be seen to be moving forward together at this key moment. "
"As a long time consumer of language services both as a lawyer and now as a European politician I am all too aware that the linguists have not been properly recognised and valued; a Royal Charter brings us nearer to that goal."