british prime minister tony blair claimed today ' s events could " make history tempers " and to " escape the heavy bonds of history " . blair said , " look backward and we see centuries pock - unmarked by struggle , hardship , even fear , among the people of these areas . " blair ' s predecessor , sir john howe said " the sight of everyone that were once totally antagonistic to one someone riding down to think the revival of united irish is very attractive , " adding " i always believed from the outset that it was , but that it wouldn be harder and that it wouldn last a long pause . "
Blair belongs to the Church of England.