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Brown meets anti-war campaigner | Brown meets anti-war campaigner |
(20 minutes later) | |
A mother who has campaigned against the war in Iraq since her soldier son was killed is due to meet Prime Minister Gordon Brown. | A mother who has campaigned against the war in Iraq since her soldier son was killed is due to meet Prime Minister Gordon Brown. |
Rose Gentle, from Glasgow, an outspoken critic of the government's handling of the war, will have private talks with Mr Brown at an undisclosed location. | Rose Gentle, from Glasgow, an outspoken critic of the government's handling of the war, will have private talks with Mr Brown at an undisclosed location. |
Mrs Gentle said she would ask for better information for the families of those killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. | Mrs Gentle said she would ask for better information for the families of those killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. |
She added that she was "quite thankful" for the meeting. | She added that she was "quite thankful" for the meeting. |
Mrs Gentle's son Gordon, of the 1st Battalion Royal Highland Fusiliers, was 19 when he was killed in the southern Iraqi city of Basra in June 2004. | Mrs Gentle's son Gordon, of the 1st Battalion Royal Highland Fusiliers, was 19 when he was killed in the southern Iraqi city of Basra in June 2004. |
'Right to know' | 'Right to know' |
Speaking before the meeting with Mr Brown, she said: "The families could be informed a lot more about the death of a loved one. Families who have lost someone feel as though they are not getting a lot of information. | Speaking before the meeting with Mr Brown, she said: "The families could be informed a lot more about the death of a loved one. Families who have lost someone feel as though they are not getting a lot of information. |
"They have a right to know exactly what happened before it comes out in a newspaper or book. | "They have a right to know exactly what happened before it comes out in a newspaper or book. |
"Families want to know why it is taking so long for equipment to get over to Afghanistan. That's what the families are really worried about. | "Families want to know why it is taking so long for equipment to get over to Afghanistan. That's what the families are really worried about. |
"There should also be funds set up for the siblings who have lost a relative." | "There should also be funds set up for the siblings who have lost a relative." |
Mrs Gentle, who is taking her mother to the meeting, added: "I've never had a face-to-face meeting with the prime minister before. We are quite thankful that Gordon Brown is meeting with us." | Mrs Gentle, who is taking her mother to the meeting, added: "I've never had a face-to-face meeting with the prime minister before. We are quite thankful that Gordon Brown is meeting with us." |
A Downing Street spokesman said: "We can confirm the meeting is taking place today." | A Downing Street spokesman said: "We can confirm the meeting is taking place today." |
He also confirmed that Mr Brown will be meeting General David Petraeus, the head of US Central Command, in his constituency of Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath. | |
They will discuss the ongoing operation in Afghanistan and the fallout from Thursday's elections. | |
Mrs Gentle is the founder of the Military Families Against The War group. | Mrs Gentle is the founder of the Military Families Against The War group. |