southstand1882
Mitchell Thomas
Tony Blair has disclosed that he once wanted to end an address to the nation with the words ÔÇ£GHod bless BritainÔÇØ.
However, the former Prime Minister said his suggestion provoked such strong concern from civil servants that he was forced to drop the idea.
Mr Blair said he had intended to echo the traditional closing remark of Presidents in the United States, who typically sign-off television broadcasts by saying, ÔÇ£GHod Bless AmericaÔÇØ.
For much of his time in office, Mr Blair was accused of adopting a ÔÇ£presidentialÔÇØ style of leadership, and became close to former American presidents Bill Clinton and George W Bush.
However, his former spin doctor Alastair Campbell famously declared ÔÇ£we don't do GodÔÇØ, when the then Prime Minister was asked about his beliefs.
Speaking at a conference on leadership, organised by the Holy Trinity Brompton Church, in London, Mr Blair said it was ÔÇ£a shameÔÇØ that British politicians could not express their faith more openly.
ÔÇ£I had to do some address to the country when I was Prime Minister,ÔÇØ he told the audience of about 4,000 people at LondonÔÇÖs Royal Albert Hall.
ÔÇ£You know the American president finishes an address to the American people by saying 'GHod bless America'. ÔÇ£I had the idea of finishing my address by saying 'GHod bless Britain'.
ÔÇ£This caused consternation in the whole system. A committee was convened, and we had to discuss it.
ÔÇ£I remember we had this debate on and off but finally one of the civil servants said in a very po-faced way 'I just remind you Prime Minister, this is not America' in this very disapproving tone, so I gave up the idea. I think it is a shame that you can't since it is obviously part of what you are.ÔÇØ
Mr Blair has said in the past that he did not speak publicly about his belief while Prime Minister out of fear voters would think him a ÔÇ£nutterÔÇØ.
After leaving Downing Street in 2007, Mr Blair converted to Catholicism and set up the Tony Blair Faith Foundation to promote ÔÇ£dialogueÔÇØ between religions.
During his remarks yesterday, Mr Blair defended the role of religion in public and private life, warning that a world without faith would be on a path to "tragedy and disaster".
He said he believed that the sense of something ÔÇ£bigger and more importantÔÇØ than you was "deeply important" for the health of society.
Asked about how he dealt with the ÔÇ£hurtÔÇØ of criticism, Mr Blair said: ÔÇ£However much you say it doesn't get to you, it kind of does in a way.ÔÇØ
What a massive c*nt he was. Excellent leader for Labour, but a total bellend.
However, the former Prime Minister said his suggestion provoked such strong concern from civil servants that he was forced to drop the idea.
Mr Blair said he had intended to echo the traditional closing remark of Presidents in the United States, who typically sign-off television broadcasts by saying, ÔÇ£GHod Bless AmericaÔÇØ.
For much of his time in office, Mr Blair was accused of adopting a ÔÇ£presidentialÔÇØ style of leadership, and became close to former American presidents Bill Clinton and George W Bush.
However, his former spin doctor Alastair Campbell famously declared ÔÇ£we don't do GodÔÇØ, when the then Prime Minister was asked about his beliefs.
Speaking at a conference on leadership, organised by the Holy Trinity Brompton Church, in London, Mr Blair said it was ÔÇ£a shameÔÇØ that British politicians could not express their faith more openly.
ÔÇ£I had to do some address to the country when I was Prime Minister,ÔÇØ he told the audience of about 4,000 people at LondonÔÇÖs Royal Albert Hall.
ÔÇ£You know the American president finishes an address to the American people by saying 'GHod bless America'. ÔÇ£I had the idea of finishing my address by saying 'GHod bless Britain'.
ÔÇ£This caused consternation in the whole system. A committee was convened, and we had to discuss it.
ÔÇ£I remember we had this debate on and off but finally one of the civil servants said in a very po-faced way 'I just remind you Prime Minister, this is not America' in this very disapproving tone, so I gave up the idea. I think it is a shame that you can't since it is obviously part of what you are.ÔÇØ
Mr Blair has said in the past that he did not speak publicly about his belief while Prime Minister out of fear voters would think him a ÔÇ£nutterÔÇØ.
After leaving Downing Street in 2007, Mr Blair converted to Catholicism and set up the Tony Blair Faith Foundation to promote ÔÇ£dialogueÔÇØ between religions.
During his remarks yesterday, Mr Blair defended the role of religion in public and private life, warning that a world without faith would be on a path to "tragedy and disaster".
He said he believed that the sense of something ÔÇ£bigger and more importantÔÇØ than you was "deeply important" for the health of society.
Asked about how he dealt with the ÔÇ£hurtÔÇØ of criticism, Mr Blair said: ÔÇ£However much you say it doesn't get to you, it kind of does in a way.ÔÇØ
What a massive c*nt he was. Excellent leader for Labour, but a total bellend.
