Blair to teach 'faith and globalisation' at Yale University

Published on Friday 7 March 2008 23:54

TONY Blair is to further his interest in religion by teaching classes on "faith and globalisation" at the prestigious Yale University in an initiative linked to the Tony Blair Faith Foundation, due to be launched later this year.

Academics at Yale School of Management and Divinity are working with Mr Blair to finalise details of the course. A source close to the former prime minister said he was "delighted" to be taking on the new challenge.

The Connecticut university's president, Richard Levin, said staff were "honoured" Mr Blair would be joining them. His pay is expected to be nominal, and it has yet to be decided how much time the job will involve. "His role in the Middle East will be unaffected," the source added.

Since leaving Number 10 last summer, Mr Blair has taken on a range of posts, including becoming Middle East envoy for the so-called Quartet of powers – the US, the UN, the EU and Russia.

Mr Blair converted from Anglicanism to Catholicism last year. He said faith played a major part in some of his most controversial decisions, including sending troops to invade Iraq.

He has earned millions of pounds with consultancies at investment bank JP Morgan and financial services giant Zurich. A deal with Random House for his memoirs is thought to be worth about 5 million.

There has been speculation that Mr Blair wants the soon-to-be-created role of EU president.