Campbell interrupted Blair: 'We don't do God' (God help us!)

The Sunday Telegraph ^ | May 5, 2003 | Colin Brown, Political Editor

[UnklGene]

Campbell interrupted Blair as he spoke of his faith: 'We don't do God' By Colin Brown, Political Editor (Filed: 04/05/2003)

Tony Blair's most senior advisers have intervened to prevent him discussing his faith in public, according to two new profiles of the Prime Minister.

The bar on the topic is so rigid that Alastair Campbell, Mr Blair's director of strategy and communications, intervened in a recent interview to prevent the Prime Minister from answering a question about his Christianity. "We don't do God," Mr Campbell interrupted.

It also emerged yesterday that Mr Blair was prevented by his advisers from ending his address to the nation at the start of hostilities in Iraq with the message: "God bless you." The extent of the sensitivity at Number 10 to Mr Blair discussing his faith is revealed in an article to mark Mr Blair's 50th birthday this week in Vanity Fair.

The magazine's writer, David Margolick, asked the Prime Minister about his religion and the extent that it bonded him to President George W. Bush. At that point Mr Campbell, who was present throughout but had until then not been involved in the conversation, asked Mr Blair: "Is he [Mr Margolick] on God?"

According to Mr Margolick's account, when it became clear that the subject had indeed turned to religion, Mr Campbell intervened again. "We don't do God," he stated. "I'm sorry. We don't do God."

Mr Campbell, who is an atheist, has been keen to stop Mr Blair discussing his faith since 1996, when the Labour leader gave an extensive interview on the subject in The Telegraph which proved highly controversial.

Further evidence of Number 10's anxiety to avoid religious rhetoric during the Iraq war emerged yesterday in an article in The Times by Sir Peter Stothard, the newspaper's former editor.

While having make-up applied for his screen appearance on the eve of hostilities in Iraq, the Prime Minister reportedly told his staff: "I want to end with, 'God bless you'."

At this point, according to The Times article, there was "a noisy team revolt in which every player appears to be complaining at once". Staff said that this was "not a good idea", to which an irritated Mr Blair - raising his voice - responded: "Oh no?"

One unidentified member of the Blair team reportedly replied: "You are talking to lots of people who don't want chaplains pushing stuff down their throats."

When the Prime Minister responded by saying: "You are the most ungodly lot I have ever . . .", his speechwriter Peter Hyman, who is Jewish, replied tartly: "Ungodly? Count me out."

Others intervened in what was becoming an impromptu theological debate: "That's not the same God." Mr Blair remained defiant. "It is the same God," he said.

In the end, however, the religious phrase was not used and the message ended with a simple "Thank you". According to The Times article, Mr Blair also said that he was ready to "meet his Maker" and account for his decision to go to war in Iraq.

The Prime Minister made this declaration of faith on April 2, the day after seven Iraqi women and children were shot dead by United States soldiers at a checkpoint.

Asked how he responded to the deaths, Mr Blair said: "It really gets to you." He added, however, that he was ready to answer before God for "those who have died or have been horribly maimed as a result of my decisions".

Mr Blair reportedly accepted that others who believe in "the same God" may assess that the final judgment will be against him.

Asked by Vanity Fair whether he had discussed religion with President Bush, Mr Blair said: "I can't say it's something we've discussed, but it's something we share."

[Torie]

As a near atheist agnostic, I am a somewhat saddened that a culture views a leader saying God bless you as a leading indicator of a nutter. Something is a bit rotten in Denmark.

[Husker24]

How and the hell do his "advisors" tell him what to do? I would fire them.

[ATOMIC_PUNK]

'I'm ready to meet my Maker and answer for those who have died as a result of my decisions'

TONY BLAIR believes that he will be called to account for the Iraq War before God, and can justify to his “Maker” decisions which led to hundreds of deaths.

[MEG33]

Thank God for the faith of our leaders.I hear Howard is also a man of faith.The burden of leadership is heavy indeed.

[El Cid]

2 Chron 7:14

14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. (KJV)

May God have mercy on us.

[narses]

Ping.

[Arkinsaw]

TONY BLAIR believes that he will be called to account for the Iraq War before God, and can justify to his “Maker” decisions which led to hundreds of deaths.

I believe he can too.

[Gabrielle Reilly]

It is more that one's religion is one's private business in England, Australia and much of Europe. We do not have the same frictions over religion in England and Australia as America has having a much more open discussion of faith in America. It does not mean the people have any less faith, it is just not part of the culture to discuss your belief publicly. More wars have been caused in the history of mankind over religion than any other cause so it is viewed as best not discussed by politicians. I think it was a much wiser decision in dealing with the war on Iraq so religion was not raised as the motive, which could potentially escalate into the clash of civilizations otherwise.

[SevenofNine]

That sucks Gene about Campbell saying we don't discuss God

I like see him tell that to Dubya if you want see one tick off Texan be my guest tell him that you probably get Black eye from him

[Torie]

"God bless you" hardly strikes me as a sectarian phrase. It is more simply wishing that if there is a higher power, that power will wish you well. Such a phrase does not remind me of Jimmy Swagart, militant fundamentalists, the sectarian strife in N. Ireland, or the sectarian strife of the Protestants and the Catholics in the 17th century. Is there really that much scar tissue in Europe? Are memories simply that long. My advice: just get over it and relax, and be happy.

[Porterville]

I sense a Christian Revival through out the Western World....what will happen???

[maranatha]

Religion wasn't the motive of the war, it was security of our countries. We are now, and have been, in a clash of civilizations..President's speech following 9-11.

[gcruse]

Well said. The American propensity to believe that everyone else does or should share one's faith is so common we lurch into things like calling the response to 9/11 a crusade. Sometimes it makes matter worse.

[rovenstinez]

Isn't this the same country that sings, GOD SAVE THE QUEEN?

[dodger]

Long past time for Tony to do the RIGHT thing & acknowledge his true TORY roots in a return to the fold ...

[MEG33]

You will notice President Bush had meetings with Muslims and carefully distanced himself from any religious intent in the war on terror.While I agree about historical religious wars,there seems to be only one religion that's intent on killing infidels today.Not all subscribe in Islam to the action..but it is taught and we've paid dearly for the action of those who performed it and promote it.I pray for tolerance between all faiths.

[green team 1999]

bump

[rwfromkansas]

This story doesn't sit well with me unless Blair is a pantywaist.

He is the PM. He can whatever the hell he wants to say.

I don't buy that others said he couldn't so he just went along.

[rwfromkansas]

Check out the church attendence. Yes, there is less faith in England.