Critics label Blair book donation 'Blood Money'

London, Aug.17 (ANI): 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".

Sky News 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 Sky News: "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)