A Haringey Labour candidate has confirmed she did receive a donation from former Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Catherine West, standing for Labour in Hornsey & Wood Green, confirmed that her constituency office had received money from the former leader.

Mr Blair has donated £1,000 each to 106 key marginal seats in the run up to the General Election in a bid to help his former party gain a majority.

The move has been controversial given the former Prime Minister’s record on Iraq and Afghanistan and his current role as peace envoy to the Middle East, with one Scottish Labour candidate refusing the cash.

Catherine West said: “This is a donation made to the Labour Party and the party feels that we need the money in going up against millionaire Lynne Featherstone.

“The funding has been allocated by the central party and is for our campaign in this seat, candidate’s do not personally accept donations.

“Funding elections against millionaires is expensive.”