Labour MPs in Sussex are divided over the future of Tony Blair following the party's poor performance in last week's local elections.

A poll of the county's five Labour MPs yesterday found one calling for him to step down immediately, one urging him to consider making his retirement plans public, two proposing he leave in good time for Chancellor Gordon Brown to establish himself as leader and one for him to defy his critics and stay put.

The Prime Minister has already said he will step down before the next General Election - expected in 2009. Yesterday he clarified this statement by adding he would resign in time for his successor to "settle down" before the national poll.

But Labour's performance in last week's local elections - when it lost control of Crawley Borough Council and about 20 others around the country - has prompted several MPs to call for him to name his exact leaving date to ensure an "orderly transition" of power to Mr Brown.

Des Turner, MP for Brighton Kemptown and a fierce critic of Mr Blair's attempts to introduce market forces into state education, called for the Prime Minister to stand down at once.

Dr Turner said: "It's not in best interests of the Government, the country or the Labour party for him to continue any longer. Celia Barlow, MP for Hove and Portslade, called on Mr Blair and Mr Brown to "think seriously" about sharing Mr Blair's retirement date with the public in the interests of transparency and to end speculation.

Ms Barlow said: "There needs to be an orderly transition decided by Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. There may be a good case for them to make the date public. It's a matter for them when it is."

Hastings and Rye MP Michael Foster said he wanted to see Mr Brown in office in "good time" before the next General Election. But he refused to add his name to those calling for Mr Blair's immediate resignation, adding: "Tony Blair will go because he says he will. There is no need to push him."

Brighton Pavilion MP David Lepper said: "It would be a mistake to rush into any change on the basis of the local election results. He has said he will go before the next General Election and I certainly wouldn't be supporting any call for him to go in the immediate future."

Crawley MP Laura Moffatt insisted the Prime Minister should stay.

She said "People didn't elect him so we could start fighting among ourselves."