PM 'wants to be a Catholic' says priest

Speculation intensified today that Tony Blair intends to become a Catholic.

His family priest, Father Timothy Russ, disclosed that the Prime Minister had discussed with him the possibility of conversion. "If you ask me do you think he wants to become a Catholic, I would say yes," he said.

Mr Blair, an Anglican, regularly attends Mass at his official residence of Chequers with his wife Cherie and their children, who have been brought up Roman Catholics. Mr Russ, a parish priest in nearby Missenden, said Mr Blair's faith had become increasingly important to him in recent months.

The priest's revelations suggest Mr Blair is breaking his 1996 pledge to the late Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Basil Hume, not to take Catholic communion in Britain.