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Blair's faith under scrutiny
Oct 21 2005
By Jonathan Walker, Political Editor
Tony Blair's religious beliefs were under scrutiny again yesterday after a Labour backbencher accused him of giving faith groups " disproportionate influence" in Government.
Birmingham MP Lynne Jones (Lab Selly Oak) said it was "undemocratic" for religious beliefs to affect policy.
She demanded the abolition of a little-known working group, set up by Mr Blair to give religions a say in every Government department, whose members include Redditch MP Jacqui Smith (Lab).
Mr Blair's personal religious beliefs have come under the spotlight in a way that was previously unknown in modern British politics.
Last month another Labour colleague, Midland MP Ken Purchase (Lab Wolverhampton North East), claimed Mr Blair had allowed his faith to influence education policy.
Dr Jones attacked the Government's decision to set up a body called the Faith Communities Liaison Group, to inject religious ideas across Government.
Its remit is "to consider the most effective means of achieving greater involvement of the faith communities in policy-making and delivery across Whitehall".
Ministers on the committee include Ms Smith, the Schools Minister and Yvette Cooper, a Local Government Minister.
Other members include the Bishop of Leicester and representatives of the Sikh, Hindu and Baha ' i communities. In a House of Commons motion, Dr Jones said: "Allowing faith groups disproportionately to influence the Government in this way is undemocratic, discriminatory and can help to perpetuate the erroneous idea that religions have a monopoly on moral values or social concerns."
Mr Blair is a committed Christian who once said he was ready to "meet my Maker" and "answer for those who have died or have been horribly maimed as a result of my decisions".
