Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Tony Blair Wanted to End Speech With: "God Bless Britain"
The Daily Telegraph (UK) ^ | 5/14/12 | Tim Ross

Posted on 05/15/2012 12:04:13 PM PDT by marshmallow

Tony Blair has disclosed that he once wanted to end an address to the nation with the words “God bless Britain”.

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, “God Bless America”.

For much of his time in office, Mr Blair was accused of adopting a “presidential” 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 “we don't do God”, 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 “a shame” that British politicians could not express their faith more openly.

“I had to do some address to the country when I was Prime Minister,” he told the audience of about 4,000 people at London’s Royal Albert Hall.

(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...


TOPICS: General Discusssion; Religion & Culture; Religion & Politics
KEYWORDS: antitheism; oncegreatbritain; thereisnoenglandnow; tonyblair

1 posted on 05/15/2012 12:04:17 PM PDT by marshmallow
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: marshmallow

“However, the former Prime Minister said his suggestion provoked such strong concern from civil servants that he was forced to drop the idea.”

###

Churchill would have shoved it in their politically correct faces.

Back when Britain still had its Christian balls.


2 posted on 05/15/2012 12:08:49 PM PDT by EyeGuy (Armed, judgmental, fiscally responsible heterosexual.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: EyeGuy
"The Almighty in His infinite wisdom did not see fit to create Frenchmen in the image of Englishmen."

- Sir Winston Churchill (1942)

3 posted on 05/15/2012 12:15:02 PM PDT by andy58-in-nh (America does not need to be organized: it needs to be liberated.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: marshmallow
Tony Blair has disclosed that he once wanted to end an address to the nation with the words “God bless Britain”.

It would seem perfectly normal as Britain has a State Religion.

Now, as for this side of the Atlantic, I expect any day for Obama to end a speech with God Bless America, Allah Willing.

4 posted on 05/15/2012 12:17:47 PM PDT by varon (The Patriots stand watch!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: EyeGuy

The BBC famously banned Winston Churchill for speaking out against NAZIsm.

He was right.


5 posted on 05/15/2012 12:23:11 PM PDT by a fool in paradise (Barack Obama has cut and run from what he called "the right war".)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: EyeGuy

And Churchill was a Tory. Blair sometimes forgot “New Labour” changed its name from the Socialist Party.


6 posted on 05/15/2012 12:24:49 PM PDT by Deb (Beat him, strip him and bring him to my tent!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: marshmallow

7 posted on 05/15/2012 12:26:38 PM PDT by wolfman23601
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: marshmallow

A strong leader would have ignored the complaints. “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall” was unpopular with the idiot State Dept. officials. Bob


8 posted on 05/15/2012 12:28:59 PM PDT by alstewartfan ( 27 of 36 Romney judicial appointments were DEMOCRATS!!!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: marshmallow
...his suggestion provoked such strong concern from civil servants that he was forced to drop the idea...

6 out of 10 civil servants polled do not want Britain blessed by God.

God abides by the results.

9 posted on 05/15/2012 12:35:24 PM PDT by Never on my watch (I'd rather light a candle than curse the flatulence.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: marshmallow

Courage, Tony...Courage....

Just do it and let them complain...then THEY will have the public to answer to.
You’re not there to keep the atheists happy!
OR the civil servants for that matter!


10 posted on 05/15/2012 1:20:35 PM PDT by G Larry (Criminals thrive on the indulgence of society's understanding)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: marshmallow
Well he could have said "God bless the British Empire."
11 posted on 05/15/2012 2:19:03 PM PDT by FroggyTheGremlim (Conservative patriots, Rise up!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: marshmallow

Had anyone in the PM’s office looked at the opening words of their national anthem recently?


12 posted on 05/15/2012 4:45:53 PM PDT by Campion ("Social justice" begins in the womb)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson