We must not fail in Iraq, says PM

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He said removing Saddam from power in Iraq and the Taliban in Afghanistan had been done with "relative ease", but the "blowback" from "global terrorists" had been substantial.

"For me, I think we must see it through," he said. "The terrorists who threaten us here and around the world will never give up if we give up.

"It is a test of will and belief and we can't fail it."

Mr Blair spoke about his "great expectations" when he came into office in 1997.

"Occasionally people said the expectations were too high and that you should have lowered them."

But Mr Blair stressed that both as a person and a Prime Minister he was an optimist.

"Politics is supposed to be the art of the possible. In my mind, you should give the impossible a go."

And in an emotional moment, he said: "Hand on heart, I did what I thought was right."

Then he admitted: "I did what I thought was right for our country. I came into office with high hopes for Britain's future, and I leave it with even higher hopes for Britain's future."