Would-Be Labour MP Refuses Blair's Cash

A Labour parliamentary candidate has rejected a £1,000 donation from former prime minister Tony Blair.

Mr Blair has pledged more than £100,000 to help Labour win May's General Election, with £1,000 going to local campaigns in 106 key battleground seats.

However, Lesley Brennan, Labour's candidate in Dundee East, said her constituency would not be accepting the millionaire politician's money.

She tweeted: "Received donation from Tony Blair. Instinct was to not accept. Discussed with team. Dundee East is not accepting the £1,000."

When the donation was announced last week, a Labour spokesman said the party was "delighted" Mr Blair had put his own money behind efforts to get Ed Miliband into No 10.

In a letter to candidates, Mr Blair said: "I know how hard it can be to raise money to fund a local campaign, but for you, in one of our 106 battleground seats, it is even more vital.

"This is where the election will be won for Labour and that is why I am making a donation to all 106 campaigns.

"As one of our key seat candidates you know better than most the scale of the challenge we face, but I have every confidence that with your drive, determination and organisational skills, you will deliver a successful local campaign that will also see our party returned to government."

Ms Brennan's decision not to take the cash was praised by many, with her message forwarded hundreds of times on social media.

One tweeter, Jon L Foster, wrote: "So good to hear. I think if Labour officially distanced themselves from Blair, they'd win a huge amount of votes back."

However another, Steve Spear, said: "How principled of you, you know best, after all this is the guy who won 3 elections for Labour minimum wage etc."