Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair autobiography reveals casino regrets

While the plan was approved by Members of the Parliament, the House of Lords rejected the idea and the following year, after Gordon Brown was chosen as PM, the plan was ditched.

"It was the worst form of Puritanism," said Blair in his autobiography, "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".

The Manchester casino should have brought in 3,500 new jobs to the lower-socio economic areas of the city. The decision to axe the plans resulted in a slew of criticism directed against Brown.

Tony Lloyd, a Member of Parliament for Manchester Central, said that the move was "grossly unfair and outrageous." "I agree with Tony Blair," said Lloyd, "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."

The MP for Manchester Blackley, Graham Stringer, said that Brown'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," he added.