He once denied that he had prayed with former US president George Bush - but on Tuesday Tony Blair admitted he once ordered members of staff to do just that.

The former prime minister, taking part in a debate on the role of religion in public life alongside the Archbishop of Canterbury, said he had done so despite the now-famous instruction from press secretary Alastair Campbell that: "You don't do God".

Tony Blair did pray with staff, he admitted to an audience at a faith debate
He told the audience of 450 people in Westminster, central London: "I remember the Salvation Army coming to see me when I was leader of the opposition.

"At the end of it, she said: 'We're all going to kneel in prayer'.

"There were two members of my office, who should remain nameless, who looked aghast.

"I said: 'You'll have to get on your knees'. One of them said: 'For God's sake' and I said: 'Exactly'.

Huffington Post | Read this report in full at huffingtonpost.co.uk