Blair clung to belief in God during his tenure
Monday, 26 November 2007
LONDON, Nov 25 (AFP): Tony Blair has admitted his belief in God played a 'hugely important' role during his decade as Britain's prime minister, in a BBC television interview to be broadcast Sunday.
Blair, who stepped down as Britain's leader in June and is now a Middle East peace envoy, said he did not speak about his religious beliefs during his time in office for fear of being viewed as a 'nutter' by the public.
"If I am honest about it, yes of course it was hugely important," he said about his belief in God for a documentary entitled "The Blair Years".
"You know you can't have a religious faith and it be an insignificant aspect because it's, it's profound about you and about you as a human being," said Blair, who as prime minister took Britain to war in Iraq and helped bring peace to Northern Ireland.
"As I always say there is no point in me denying it, I happen to have religious conviction, I don't actually think there is anything wrong in having religious conviction -- on the contrary I think it is a strength for people."
Media reports claim that Blair, a Protestant, is planning to convert to Roman Catholicism, the religion of his wife Cherie.
Speaking to the BBC, former Labour Party leader Blair said Britain's political system made it difficult for politicians to talk publicly about religious faith.
"I mean if you are in the American political system or others then you can talk about religious faith and people say yes that's fair enough and it is something they respond to quite naturally," he said.
European Union trade commissioner Peter Mandelson, a cabinet minister under Blair, said religion was 'very, very important' to his former boss.
Blair's former spin doctor Alastair Campbell meanwhile confirmed that he had advised Blair not to speak about God in public.
Blair, who stepped down as Britain's leader in June and is now a Middle East peace envoy, said he did not speak about his religious beliefs during his time in office for fear of being viewed as a 'nutter' by the public.
"If I am honest about it, yes of course it was hugely important," he said about his belief in God for a documentary entitled "The Blair Years".
"You know you can't have a religious faith and it be an insignificant aspect because it's, it's profound about you and about you as a human being," said Blair, who as prime minister took Britain to war in Iraq and helped bring peace to Northern Ireland.
"As I always say there is no point in me denying it, I happen to have religious conviction, I don't actually think there is anything wrong in having religious conviction -- on the contrary I think it is a strength for people."
Media reports claim that Blair, a Protestant, is planning to convert to Roman Catholicism, the religion of his wife Cherie.
Speaking to the BBC, former Labour Party leader Blair said Britain's political system made it difficult for politicians to talk publicly about religious faith.
"I mean if you are in the American political system or others then you can talk about religious faith and people say yes that's fair enough and it is something they respond to quite naturally," he said.
European Union trade commissioner Peter Mandelson, a cabinet minister under Blair, said religion was 'very, very important' to his former boss.
Blair's former spin doctor Alastair Campbell meanwhile confirmed that he had advised Blair not to speak about God in public.