MEDWAY MP Bob Marshall-Andrews says rows about "spin" are having a corrosive and damaging effect on the Government.

He has also backed opposition calls for the Prime Minister Tony Blair to make a statement to MPs about claims that Downing Street sought to muscle in on the Queen Mother’s funeral.

"To make allegations against journalists, then complain to the Press Complaints Committee and then withdraw those allegations without any explanation is a serious matter. The Prime Minister does need to make a statement about all of this," the MP said.

It was wrong to claim the public did not care about the affair, he added. "This is a Government with many strengths but this kind of activity has a corrosive effect on its standing. The idea the public does not care is rubbish. They do because they care about standards of integrity in public life."

"The Government is going through a very bad patch and it is largely self-inflicted and I am not surprised the Prime Minister’s rating has fallen."

While the MP did not support calls for Alastair Campbell, Tony Blair’s chief press secretary, to be sacked his comments reflect increasing backbench disquiet that a series of rows over spin is detracting from more important Government priorities.

Gillingham MP Paul Clark said he accepted there was legitimate criticism of the Government.

"I do not doubt that it is damaging in terms of taking our eye off the ball. So far as the public is concerned, I do not have people coming up to me to complain about Alastair Campbell – they are more interested in what we are doing about cutting crime or improving the health service."