British Prime Minister sets up ministerial working group charged with injecting religious ideas into policy-making
LONDON - Does God reside in Whitehall, Britain's seat of Parliament? Yes, if Mr Tony Blair has his way.
In a decisive break with British traditions that religion and government should not mix, the Prime Minister is paving the way for Christian organisations and other 'faith groups' to play a central role in policy-making.
The controversial move by Mr Blair, who over the weekend became the longest-serving Labour Prime Minister in history, would see the rise of a new and high-powered ministerial grouping that will have inputs across government.
Based in the Home Office, it will advise the Departments for Education, Culture, Media and Sport and Trade and Industry, the Sunday Observer newspaper reported yesterday.
The weekly reported that Mr Blair's aim is to put religion at the centre of his New Labour project, reflecting his own deeply-held beliefs that answers to most questions can be found in the Bible.
The move mirrors that of US President George W. Bush, who has also solicited the input of religious groups in his policy-making.
It has drawn the ire of secular groups in Britain, who described it as a blow to secularism.
According to the Observer, Mr Blair has set up a ministerial working group in the Home Office charged with injecting religious ideas right across Whitehall.
The move is believed to have the strong support of two other leading Christian members of the Cabinet, Mr David Blunkett, the Home Secretary, and Mr Paul Boateng, Chief Secretary of the Treasury.
The working group will be chaired by the Home Office Minister with responsibility for what is called 'civic renewal', Ms Fiona Mactaggart.
The members will include Ms Estelle Morris, the former education secretary who is now the Arts Minister, and Christian organisations including the Evangelical Alliance.
Known as the Faith Community Liaison Group, it will have an input in controversial policy areas such as faith schools, which are allowed to select their pupils on the basis of their beliefs, and religious discrimination.
Mr Blair, a committed Christian who keeps the Bible by his bed, knows he is taking a risk by revealing the importance he places on religion in his politics.
Previously, he had already run into flak from his key officials over the central role that God plays in his life.
There were furrowed brows of consternation when Mr Blair, asked whom he would answer to for the deaths of British soldiers, replied: 'My Maker.'
Mr Alastair Campbell, his communications director, had said 'we don't do God' when the Prime Minister was questioned recently about his religious beliefs.
The Home Office announcement was slipped out in a parliamentary written reply four weeks ago.
In it, Ms Mactaggart outlined what the group would attempt to do: 'Its terms of reference are to consider the most effective means of achieving greater involvement of the faith communities in policy-making and delivery across Whitehall and to identify the specific policy areas where this input would be most valuable.'
Members of the committee will also include representatives of the Jewish, Sikh, Muslim and Hindu faiths.
Non-religious groups have attacked the plans, saying they gave to religious groups a special platform denied to others.
In a letter to Ms Mactaggart, Mr Keith Wood, executive director of the National Secular Society, which includes in its membership a number of Labour MPs, said:
'We feel this is a further example of the government's desire to favour religious organisations, and wonder when the opinions and needs of those who are non-religious will be similarly regarded.'
He said that despite repeated requests, non-religious groups had been excluded from any involvement in the religious working group.
Some of Mr Blair's allies are also concerned about unfavourable comparisons with the Republicans in America.
There, President Bush makes no secret of his religious faith and religious organisations have a powerful input in policy-making.