Cherie chose Catholic 'grit' for children

Published on Sunday 14 May 2006 00:37

CHERIE Blair has said she brought her children up to follow her faith because she does not want them to be "simply part of the Establishment".

The Prime Minister's wife said she wanted to raise her four children as Catholics because of the "little bit of grit" in the faith that informs its social teachings.

Blair said: "When I was growing up, to be a Catholic was something that meant you were not part of the Establishment.

"And so, being from a fairly humble family myself, and knowing that my children are having a pretty privileged life, I don't want them to be simply part of the Establishment."

Blair was speaking during a tour of Pakistan and Afghanistan last month.

She had been invited to visit by the Pakistani government in her role as the Patron of Breast Cancer Care.

During the trip she met survivors of last year's devastating earthquake that killed more than 80,000 people as well as prominent female politicians and public figures.

Mrs Blair, who has previously been criticised for making money from appearances as the Prime Minister's wife, said she had not been paid for the trip.

She came under fire last year for being reportedly paid a 100,000 fee for a speaking tour in Australia.

Mrs Blair, who once stood as a parliamentary candidate herself and lost, said she no longer has political ambitions and has no intention of giving up her successful legal career.

"I'm fascinated by politics but I've lived 26 years in politics - more than that because I've always been interested. But, you know, you can change the world through the law too and that's the path I've chosen," she said.

Giving details of her relationship with her husband, Blair said one of the things that drew the pair to one another was their common interest in politics and spiritual matters.

She said her husband calls her a "bolshie Scouser", as women from the north-west are "very strong and independent".