LABOUR candidates for Swindon’s two parliamentary seats accepted £1,000 donations from Tony Blair last week, after three party members made headlines for rejecting the gesture.

The former prime minister donated £106,000 to the 106 battleground seats Labour is targeting in the General Election, with Mark Dempsey and Anne Snelgrove among those on the list.

Sophy Gardner in Gloucester, Sally Keeble in Northampton North and Lesley Brennan in Dundee East have all publicly turned down their former leader’s offer.

But Mr Dempsey, contesting North Swindon North, and Mrs Snelgrove, contesting South Swindon, have both declared their pleasure in receiving the money and said individual choices were made by their peers.

Mrs Snelgrove, who was first elected as an MP under Mr Blair’s stewardship in 2005, said the cheques were sent to the individual constituencies rather than via the central office.

“I’m sad actually, from their point of view if they feel like that, because the good things Tony Blair did far outweigh the bad things,” she said.

“It’s an election campaign, these things happen. The vast majority feel as I do. This was a great gesture and very generous.”

She hopes the funds may go towards a mini advertising campaign before May 7.

Mr Dempsey, who must overturn a 7,060 Conservative majority in North Swindon, praised the work Mr Blair had done in office and said the money would more than likely be used for leafleting.

“I am very happy to get support from the former leader in a key seat like North Swindon,” he said.

“It’s really important for Labour to have these resources, which will help us to campaign effectively in a very important seat.”