Tony Blair helped broker a deal to secure a £1million donation designed to curb the influence of trade unions on Labour , it emerged today . The former prime minister reportedly hosted a dinner with Hull City boss Assem Allam to secure cash to plug a hole caused by the Unite union withdrawing support from Ed Miliband . It comes just days after a row erupted over Labour MPs rejecting £1,000 donations from the triple election winner . Scroll down for video . Tony Blair has stepped up efforts to secure a Labour victory on May 7 , despite repeatedly appearing to question the direction of Mr Miliband 's leadership . Mr Blair has stepped up efforts to secure a Labour victory on May 7 , despite repeatedly appearing to question the direction of Mr Miliband 's leadership . The ex-PM has warned that fighting on a 'traditional left-wing ' platform was a recipe for defeat for Labour . But claims he is working to limit the influence of the unions has sparked a row among left-wing Labour MPs who accused him of pursuing 'underhand tactics ' . Mr Miliband has been seen as too left-wing since the moment he narrowly beat his brother David to the leadership with the support of the unions . Unite chief Len McCluskey has warned Labour that funding for its election warchest is dependent on pursing policies he supports . It is also claimed that he is demanding his friend Karie Murphy be included in a shortlist to be the Labour candidate in Halifax . The Unite activist was embroiled in allegations of vote-rigging in the Falkirk seat , but was cleared of wrongdoing . According to the Sunday Times , Mr Blair sealed an agreement with Mr Allam that he would find more money for the Labour party if Unite withdrew support . The former prime minister reportedly hosted a dinner with Hull City boss Assem Allam ( pictured ) to secure cash to plug a hole caused by the Unite union withdrawing support from Ed Miliband . The chairman of Hull City football club has already given £200,000 to Labour this year , and has promised another £300,000 . If Unite cuts its support , Mr Allam is said to be ready to donate another £500,000 . Mr Allam told the newspaper : ' I want to see a strong Labour party , less reliant on trade union money , so I have said if you have any problem with the Unite money I will make my donation £1m . ' He added : 'As I have always said to our friends in the Labour party , Tony Blair and Ed Miliband , I would increase my political donations to gradually reduce the Labour party 's financial reliance on the trade unions . ' I hope I can inspire other like-minded business people to do the same so that the Labour party can stand on their own without having to satisfy one paymaster . ' It is the latest example of the growing influence of New Labour grandees in the effort to secure a victory for Labour . Labour leader Ed Miliband is under pressure from Blairites not to lurch to the left in the days before the election . Mr Miliband has appointed former Deputy PM John Prescott as an adviser on climate change , while ex-spin doctor Alastair Campbell is playing an increasingly high profile role in the run-up to the election . But Mr Blair 's invokvement provoked the wrath of Jim Sheridan , the chairman of the Unite group of Labour MPs . ' A lot of MPs are members of Unite , ' he said . 'Unite have just given £1.6m to the party to try to get Ed Miliband into power so if this guy [ Allam ] or Blair are working against the party , then I think people will be really angry and frustrated . ' Last week Mr Campbell publicly attacked Labour candidates turning down donations from Mr Blair - and warned they should prepare for another Tory government . At least two candidates - Lesley Brennan and Sally Keeble - rejected Mr Blair after he offered 106 key battleground seats £1,000 each to fight the election . The former Prime Minister said the swing constituencies were 'where the election will be won for Labour ' . Mr Campbell accused the candidates of being 'attention seeking ' and questioned whether they wanted to win .
Former labour councillors hosted dinner with Hull City councillor ##y ward . Reportedly agreed to donate £ 300,000 on top of £ 200,000 already this year . Has promised another £ 500,000 if the Unite campaign withdraws funding . supporters row over Labour candidates demanding £ 1,000 donations from Blair .