It had been an open secret for years that Blair leaned towards the Catholic Church. Of course, the only people who know exactly why his conversion was delayed are Blair himself and his immediate friends and advisers- but I don't think this affects my basic point- that it would have been political madness for him to make the move while still in office. Britain is still, in its instincts, a Protestant nation- and not yet ready for the idea of its top man being answerable to the Pope.