Blair cancels Tate Modern memoir launch party

Two days after he was forced to cancel a central London book signing, Tony Blair has called off the launch party for his new autobiography, saying he didn't want guests and organisers to have to face the hassle of anticipated protests.

Both events were planned to take place today – the signing at the Piccadilly branch of Waterstones and the launch party at Tate Modern on London's South Bank. On Monday, Blair announced he was cancelling the former event.

Now Random House, publisher of A Journey, has confirmed the party is also canned, and that it has informed his guests. Speaking before the decision about the party was taken, Blair told ITV: "It is sad in a way because you should have the right to sign books or see your friends if you want to.

"But it was going to cause so much hassle. The people at the party tonight are friends - and some of them are not political at all.

"I don't mind going through protesters - I have lived with that all my political life. But for other people it can be a bit unpleasant and frightening."

As reported on The First Post this week, eggs and shoes were thrown at Blair by protesters in Dublin this week as he was appearing to sign copies of his book. One man even tried to make a citizen's arrest.

Similar protests were expected at the London events. Tate Modern had been criticised by Blair's opponents for agreeing to host the launch event.

Blair's appearance on ITV's This Morning contained one other interesting tidbit: since A Journey was published, with its descriptions of Gordon Brown as "maddening" and having "zero" emotional intelligence, he and Blair have not spoken.

"But we will," Blair assured his hosts.

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