A DORSET MP and government minister has spoken up in support of the Prime Minister amid claims the government is “collapsing”.

Jim Knight, MP for South Dorset, urged Labour supporters not to “panic” under increased pressure.

He gave Gordon Brown his backing, even though the party was predicted to perform poorly in the local and European elections on Thursday (June 4).

Mr Brown has also been rocked by a wave of top-level resignations, most notably communities secretary Hazel Blears, whose decision was seen as a deliberate attempt to undermine his authority.

The extraordinary turn of events prompted Conservative leader David Cameron to taunt: “The government is collapsing before our eyes”.

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg claimed: “Labour is finished.”

But Mr Knight said of Mr Brown: “As he showed in Prime Minister’s Questions, he’s still a figure of great authority that commands the support of the vast majority of our party and he’s also focused on the right things – getting us through the economic downturn and dealing with expenses.”

When asked about the rumours of a backbenchers’ plot to oust Mr Brown, he said: “That’s not what we should as a party be thinking about at the moment and the country would not thank us for it.

“We’ve been elected to govern and we desperately need strong government.”

With a majority of just 1,812, Mr Knight will be one of the most vulnerable Labour MPs at the next election but he insisted he would be fighting to keep his seat and the job he loves.

He said: “I love both jobs that I do, as a minister and representing the people of South Dorset, and I want to be able to continue doing that.

“Absolutely I want to carry on and I want to carry on in government.”

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