London: Critics of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair have labelled his multi-million pound donation to the Royal British Legion from proceeds of his autobiography as "blood money".
A news channel quoted Roger Bacon, whose 34-year-old son Matthew was killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq in 2005, said he found it hard to believe a man who was "unable to say sorry" at the Chilcot Inquiry was donating the funds "with a good heart".
He told a news channel: "I am sure that he has a conscience and one wonders whether in fact it is a guilty conscience that makes him do this."
Blair`s spokesman said the fee and any royalties from the autobiography, including a reported 4.6 million advance, would go to the Legion`s Battle Back Challenge Centre, which is set to open in summer 2012.
Chris Simpkins, the Royal British Legion`s director general, said the Legion was "delighted" to accept the "very generous" donation.
Blair`s book, A Journey, is expected to lift the lid on his years in Downing Street. It will be published on September 1.
ANI
First Published: Tuesday, August 17, 2010, 12:20
