Huge Amount of Hard Work Needed - but We Can Do It ; As Employment Minister, Jim Knight Is Responsible for Keeping the Public in Their Jobs. But, As He Tells Matt Chorley, He Believes His Cabinet Colleagues Must Work Harder to Hang On to Their Own at the Next Election

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IF JIM Knight was your boss, you would probably have quite a laugh in the office. But you wouldn't want to cross him. With his trademark white-flecked goatee beard, wire-framed spectacles and mobile phone holster on his belt, the 43-year-old is the picture of middle-management.

Seemingly, he is never happier than when jacketless and on his feet, bobbing around his anonymous Whitehall office talking journalists through a slideshow presentation on employment trends.

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Huge Amount of Hard Work Needed - but We Can Do It ; As Employment Minister, Jim Knight Is Responsible for Keeping the Public in Their Jobs. But, As He Tells Matt Chorley, He Believes His Cabinet Colleagues Must Work Harder to Hang On to Their Own at the Next Election

After being handed the poisoned chalice of effectively being dole minister - in the wake of Labour's disastrous local and European elections in June - his profile has risen markedly.

He admits he has a "slightly more laid-back, less-combative style" than his predecessor, Labour bruiser Tony McNulty, who left the Government amid inquiries into his expense claims.

With his easy manner comes some considerable stamina. On the day this month's unemployment figures were released, Mr Knight gave a total of...

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