BOURNEMOUTH East MP Conor Burns says the Prime Minister is “relaxed” about the prospect of sacking him from a government job next week.

Mr Burns expects to be fired from his post as parliamentary private secretary to the Northern Ireland secretary on Monday or Tuesday, after he votes against the government’s plans for House of Lords reform.

He said he had met Mr Cameron at a function on Monday and explained that he could not support the government on the issue on principal. But he took the opportunity to assure Mr Cameron of his support for the government in general.

“He was very relaxed about it,” Mr Burns said.

Mr Burns pointed out that before the 2010 election, Mr Cameron had described Lords reform as a “third term” priority.