Tony Blair today paid tribute to the author, journalist and literary critic Christopher Hitchens as a "unique character" who was "fearless in the pursuit of truth and any cause in which he believed."

Tony Blair and Christopher Hitchens publicly debated together in November 2010 at the 6th annual Munk Debate in Toronto. The sell-out debate focused on competing claims regarding religion’s effect on human civilisation, today and into the future.

Tony Blair said: "Christopher Hitchens was a complete one-off, an amazing mixture of writer, journalist, polemicist, and unique character.

"He was fearless in the pursuit of truth and any cause in which he believed. And there was no belief he held, that he did not advocate with passion, commitment and brilliance.

"He was an extraordinary, compelling and colourful human being whom it was a privilege to know."