An Eastbourne MP fears the alleged killers of one of his predecessors will never be brought to justice because of a planned amnesty for up to 100 IRA fugitives.

Tory MP Nigel Waterson accused Prime Minister Tony Blair of sidestepping a question from him on whether he was in favour of an amnesty for IRA terrorists.

Ian Gow, a former parliamentary aide to then prime minister Margaret Thatcher, was killed by a bomb outside his home in Hankham, near Pevensey, in 1990 before the IRA's declaration of a ceasefire.

Mr Waterson told Mr Blair it was time to come clean over reports he was to drop prosecutions and extradition proceedings for offences committed before the Good Friday Agreement of April 1998.

Mr Waterson asked: "Will the Prime Minister tell us if he is in favour of an amnesty for IRA terrorists on the run. Yes or no?"

Mr Blair said: "This is an issue that has to be dealt with. How it is dealt with, however, is a matter for discussion."

Afterwards, Mr Waterson said Mr Blair had dodged the question and his suspicions that the Government had done a "secret deal" with the IRA had been confirmed.