Blair feared mockery for beliefs

Tony Blair avoided talking about faith for fear of being seen as a "nutter" by British public

Sunday, 25, Nov 2007 12:00

Former prime minister Tony Blair has said that he did not speak openly about his religion while in office as he was wary of being seen as a "nutter".

In comments to be aired tonight in the BBC1 documentary The Blair Years, Mr Blair said the British people were wary of leaders with religious beliefs. He told the programme that he was devoted to his Christian faith but feared that it would harm his political career if he was open about his views.

He explained: "It's difficult to talk about religious faith in our political system. If you are in the American political system or others then you can talk about religious faith and people say 'yes, fair enough', and it is something they respond to quite naturally."

The former prime minister added: "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."

Former Downing Street communications director Alistair Campbell, who once told media that "we don't do God", explained to the BBC that Mr Blair was in fact very religious.

Mr Campbell tells the programme: "On that kind of spiritual level it did inform a lot of what he talked about, what he read... what he felt was important."

EU trade commissioner Peter Mandelson also says that the ex-prime minister was not open about his religion but stated that it was a very important part of him. He told the programme that Mr Blair carried a Bible with him wherever he went and read it before going to bed.