POP AND POWER BY JOHN MAJOR

The former Prime Minister said his successor Tony Blair should make appearances on current affairs programmes such as Today and Newsnight, rather than guesting on the Des 0'Connor Show.

Mr Major also criticised Chancellor Gordon Brown for preferring to sit on the sofa with TV presenters Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan, rather than debate issues properly on BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

Mr Major won a standing ovation from more than 600 pupils and their parents following a short speech and an entertaining talk-back session with serious and light-hearted questions

It was like a return to the "in the round" election meetings of 1992 and 1997.

Mr Major has made few public appearances since losing the General Election last year, concentrating on writing his memoirs and his work as a backbench MP.

The former Prime Minister had been invited to the top private school by headmaster Dr Anthony Seldon, who has written a best-selling biography of Mr Major.

He picked out questions at random from pupils of all ages. Other private schools in Sussex also had representatives in the audience.

Asked about William Hague's performance as his successor as Tory Party leader Mr Major said he believed Mr Hague was an "outstanding political talent".

He said: "As a parliamentarian Mr Hague is outstanding. He wins most of the debates with Mr Blair in the Commons."

Mr Major lambasted the "sound bite" policies of the Labour Government where politicians just make short comments on populist issues of the day.

He said:"You cannot run a country on sound bites. How nonsensical it is for politicians to comment on the split-up of the Spice Girls."

Dr Seldon's daughter Susannah, aged 9, asked if he carried a lucky charm.

Mr Major said: "When I go abroad I do take a lucky charm and that's my wife Norma."

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