Mary Reid

For once I find myself defending Tony Blair.  I was on the M11 last night so missed the Parkinson interview, but it seems he said that he prayed about the decisions he had to make and that God would be his judge. 

He did not claim that God was on his side in the war against Iraq, nor suggest that God had sanctioned his decision - had he said either I would be the first to criticise. This perhaps is where he differs from Bush, who does seem to see himself as a leader of a Christian crusade, something I find totally abhorrent.

If you have a religious faith - whether Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu or any other - you know that it is something that is fully integrated into your life.  It is not like a hobby, which can be very absorbing whilst you do it, but can be locked away in a shed or cupboard at other times, or limited to a particular day of the week. Faith runs through all aspects of your life and informs the moral, social and aesthetic choices that you make. So the suggestion that politicians can separate their faith from their politics deeply misunderstands spirituality.

I would hope that any politician faced with important decisions would spend time reflecting on the moral issues and the consequences of their choices - some will express that in terms of prayer.

I do think that Blair made the wrong decision, but I don't doubt that he struggled with the moral and spiritual issues before he made it. But like him I believe that our ultimate judge is God, and that nothing is hidden from his gaze.  In the meantime we have to face the judgement of the people we represent.