I've looked more closely,Peace,at your work and others.
We're home and dry with 2,3,5, and 14.
4. the phrase is different,and I suspect the origins lie wiith the Labour Government after WW2.
9. 'an old adage'? or Emerson? I may have to make do with 'old adage'.
11. Don't think it originated with Karen Armstrong. I noted that the same day as the Armstrong quote,in The Guardian, Michael Myer was asking where the saying originated in the wonderful Notes and Queries column without success.
15. remains unknown so far.
16. The newspaper quote isn't given an attribution,tho' it's great to have the Evening Standard and Daily Star added to what I heard originally. Someone has reworked the original.
17. Maybe we do have that,tho' my instinct is that Soh nicked the line for his book's title.
So,Soh for the nonce.
I must reread The British Library collection. Oh well.
Meantime,I want to re-place my thanks for your sterling work,especially Peace, on the public record. There.