Labour MP Jim Sheridan has resigned his junior government post in protest at the prime minister's handling of the Lebanon conflict.

He had been parliamentary private secretary to the defence ministers, the lowest rung of government office.

Seen as a supporter of Tony Blair, his resignation will come as a blow to Number 10 and serves to highlight the unease in Labour's ranks over the issue.

Sheridan said America's use of Prestwick airport in Scotland to transport military equipment to Israel had caused him particular unease.

The Paisley and Renfrewshire North MP said he had given his resignation "long and hard thought".

But he could no longer support the government's stance on the conflict, he told Sky News.

"It is a decision I have thought long and hard about," the MP added.

"I do regard myself as a friend of the prime minister and of the government, but sometimes it takes a friend to say that what you are doing is wrong."

He added that "once again the Palestinian situation has been put on the back burner".

Sheridan also told Sky News that he could not support Britain's backing for the US stance on the Middle East.

"It seems there is little if any public evidence that the Americans are serious about an early end to this conflict and therefore given our close relationship with America I think we are guilty by association," he said.

"It is on that basis that I can no longer support the government's close relationship with America or indeed their objectives for the Middle East."

And he warned: "I think there is a significant amount of colleagues in the party, not just the usual suspects but there are loyal members... who genuinely believe that we cannot dictate Middle East policy by using excessive force."

Source: www.ePolitix.com

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