'Wallowing in self-pity and self-promotion': The verdict on Blair memoirs (Video)

Union leaders and other campaigners launched attacks on the book within hours of it going on sale at 9am.

Bob Crow, general secretary of the Rail Maritime and Transport union, said: "This book is the predictable wallowing in self-pity and self-promotion of a Labour leader who squandered a golden opportunity to tackle the inequalities in our society.

"Blair could have taken the side of millions of working people against the greed and corruption of the bankers and speculators, instead he sided with the rich and his legacy will always be of a war-monger whose instincts are to follow the trail of cash."

The League Against Cruel Sports said Mr Blair's "change of heart" on hunting ignored findings of his own government's inquiry.

The charity accused the ex-premier of making a mockery of his own government after he admitted that he changed his mind on fox hunting after a conversation with a hunt's mistress whilst on a holiday in Tuscany, "ignoring" volumes of evidence from his own government inquiry on the issue.

Barrister John Cooper QC, chairman of the League Against Cruel Sports, described the admission as "remarkable", adding: "It is alarming in the extreme that the prime minister should respond to the proper passage of an Act through parliament by not encouraging its enforcement. He is sailing perilously close to perverting the course of justice."

Douglas Batchelor, the league's chief executive, said: "Thankfully the police ignored any instruction to ignore the law, and there's an average of one conviction every fortnight.

"People hunting illegally are being brought to justice, and one of the biggest successes of this Act is that it makes criminals of those hunters who break the law. The sad thing is that Blair's admission that he tried to sabotage the legislation will further denigrate the public's view of politicians.

"Quite what the bloodsports lobby, which spent years printing car stickers saying 'Bollocks to Blair', will make of this remains to be seen."

Tony Woodley, joint leader of the Unite union, said: "No matter what Tony Blair says in his book, Britain lost faith in New Labour. The Iraq war is a stain on this nation, and New Labour pandered to the casino capitalists in the city.

"His memoirs show that it is time to move on and I hope Labour and Britain will do so with Ed Miliband, the candidate who offers a break from the past.

"Ed Miliband's loyalty is to Labour and to Britain. Labour lost the election not because Middle England deserted New Labour but because New Labour deserted working people."

Anti-war activists rounded on Mr Blair for attempting to justify the war in Iraq, and promised a huge protest when he signs his book next week.

Leaders of the anti-war movement gathered outside the Waterstones bookshop in Piccadilly, central London, where the former prime minister will promote his memoirs, A Journey, a week today.

There were no queues outside the store when it opened, although Waterstones said it expected strong sales throughout the day.

Lindsey German, convenor of the Stop The War Coalition, said Mr Blair was still refusing to apologise for Iraq.

"The book is trying to justify the unjustifiable. He is refusing to say sorry or express any regret - the only thing he is sorry about is fox hunting, which is a strange priority.

"He also appears to be saying there should be a war against Iran."

Ms German revealed that the anti-war group is to lodge a formal complaint against Waterstones for hosting the book signing.

"It is a scandal that Waterstones is putting this on. Blair is by any qualification a war criminal."

Copies of Mr Blair's book were on sale for half price - 12.50 - at the Waterstones store, which the company said was normal for a big launch.

Spokesman Jon Howells said it was not surprising people had not queued before the store opened this morning to buy the book.

"This is a grown-up book and people will buy it in a grown-up way. We will sell a lot of copies of the book today and in the coming weeks and months.

"This will be the political book of the year and one of the biggest political books of all time."

Waterstones will take extra security measures next week for Mr Blair's signing, while the former premier will have his own security, as well as police outside the store in London's bustling Piccadilly.

Mr Howells said he expects Mr Blair to sign several hundred copies of the book during his hour-long appearance.

Members of the public turning up next week to buy a signed copy of the book will be given a wristband before joining the queue and will have to hand in their mobile phone and bags.

Customers will be limited to buying two copies of the book, will not be allowed to take photographs or have the book dedicated.

Workmen were installing a platform inside the Waterstones store in preparation for an appearance tonight by Sir Terry Pratchett ahead of the midnight publication of his latest Discworld book.