A Medway Labour candidate says he has no qualms about accepting a £1,000 donation from former PM Tony Blair to help his campaign fighting fund.

Tristan Osborne, the candidate in Chatham and Aylesford and also a Medway councillor, said he was happy to accept the donation.

Some candidates in target seats have turned down the money, saying they do not want to be associated with the politician who led the country into the war with Iraq.

Asked if he had considered refusing the money, Cllr Osborne said: “Not at all. Tony Blair was a successful Prime Minister who delivered seats in Kent at three elections. I am very happy to have received it.”

Mr Blair has offered £1,000 to candidates in 106 marginal seats, in a gesture seen as an effort to underline his support for the party.

In a letter to candidates, he wrote: “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.”

Chatham and Aylesford is one of two constituencies in the county that are official Labour target seats, the other being Dover and Deal.

It is 101 out of 106 marginal seats and would require a swing of about 7% to return it to Labour.