Tony Blair has launched an astonishing attack on Gordon Brown’s decision to scrap plans for a super-casino in Manchester – branding it ‘the worst form of puritanism’.

The former PM said his successor’s decision to ditch the project, which would have created 3,500 jobs in the deprived east of the city, was a ‘partisan’ and ‘ineffectual’ gesture under pressure from the church and right-wing press. Mr Blair’s attack – in his controversial new autobiography, A Journey – threatens to reopen wounds in the Labour party over the issue.

Tony Lloyd, MP for Manchester Central, said the axing of the casino was ‘grossly unfair and outrageous’ while Graham Stringer, MP for Manchester Blackley, said Mr Brown had acted out of ‘weakness and cowardice’.

Manchester was chosen to host the country’s first super-casino – under Mr Blair’s premiership in 2007.

An independent panel selected the site next to the City of Manchester Stadium from a shortlist of eight, including bookies’ favourite Blackpool.

MPs approved the plan but it was rejected in the House of Lords, creating a parliamentary stand-off.

The following year – under Mr Brown’s leadership – the government ditched the plans.

Mr Blair said: "It was the worst form of puritanism – partisan as well as ineffectual. So people can gamble to their hearts’ content and their wallets’ limit – but not in a brand-new town complex with a casino, entertainment centre, sports facilities and shops."

Mr Lloyd, whose constituency includes Eastlands, said last night: "I agree with Tony Blair that those who kicked it into touch deprived a community with one of the highest levels of unemployment the opportunity to access well paid jobs and proper training. It was the wrong decision for Manchester and the country."

Mr Stringer said: "Gordon’s decision was a combination of weakness and cowardice that lost east Manchester 3,500 jobs.

"He bowed to the House of Lords and wouldn’t take them on."

Mr Blair also discloses in the book how he sought advice about Mr Brown from Sir Alex Ferguson.

He tells how he asked the United manager: "What would you do if you had a really difficult but brilliant player causing you problems?" Mr Blair said Sir Alex replied: "Get rid of them."

The book describes James Purnell – the former Stalybridge and Hyde MP who quit the cabinet in frustration at Mr Brown’s flagging leadership – as ‘incredibly bright’ and ‘invaluable on policy issues’.

Salford and Eccles MP Hazel Blears, another loyal Blairite, is lauded as ‘a great campaigner’.