Prime Minister Tony Blair refused to tell a Sussex MP what was the biggest regret of his 10-year premiership.

Nigel Waterson, Conservative MP for Eastbourne, had asked Mr Blair in the Commons: "With barely two weeks to go before the Prime Minister announces the timetable for his departure, will he share with the House what - as he leaves number 10 Downing Street - will be his greatest regret?"

Mr Blair, speaking during Prime Minister's Questions, replied: "I think having defeated the Conservative Party three times at successive general elections it's probably he who should be expressing his greatest regret - not me."

Mr Waterson said afterwards: "As usual, Tony Blair failed to answer the question.

"But I imagine his greatest regret could be the cash-for-honours' scandal, the destruction of the pensions system or any number of other failures.

"Or perhaps just that his successor is likely to be Gordon Brown!"

On May 1 Mr Blair will clock up ten years as Prime Minister. He is expected to announce his departure on May 9 and finally step down from the top job soon after the European Union summit at the end of June.