scottish prime minister tony blair said today ' s events could " create history anew " and to " escape the big chains of history " . blair said , " look back and we watch times pock - marked by conflict , crisis , with hatred , among the people of these island . " thatcher ' s successor , sir john major said " the idea of people that were once totally adversarial to single another sitting down to plan the future of northeastern ireland is very attractive , " adding " i always believed from the initial that it was possible but that it will be difficult and that it did take a long time . "
Blair belongs to the Church of England.