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| PM apologises over soldier letter | PM apologises over soldier letter |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Gordon Brown has telephoned the mother of a soldier killed in Afghanistan to apologise after apparently misspelling his name in a letter of sympathy. | Gordon Brown has telephoned the mother of a soldier killed in Afghanistan to apologise after apparently misspelling his name in a letter of sympathy. |
| Guardsman Jamie Janes, 20, from Brighton, East Sussex, was killed in an explosion in October. | Guardsman Jamie Janes, 20, from Brighton, East Sussex, was killed in an explosion in October. |
| In a video distributed by the Sun newspaper, his mother Jacqui called the letter a "hastily scrawled insult". | In a video distributed by the Sun newspaper, his mother Jacqui called the letter a "hastily scrawled insult". |
| But Mr Brown said he was sorry "for any unintended mistake", adding that his writing could be "difficult to read". | But Mr Brown said he was sorry "for any unintended mistake", adding that his writing could be "difficult to read". |
| Guardsman Janes, of 1st Battalion The Grenadier Guards, was killed in an explosion while on foot patrol in Helmand province. | Guardsman Janes, of 1st Battalion The Grenadier Guards, was killed in an explosion while on foot patrol in Helmand province. |
| 'Personal sadness' | 'Personal sadness' |
| According to the Sun, his mother Jacqui was angry when she received the prime minister's letter of condolence in which he appeared to misspell Guardsman Janes's name as "James". | According to the Sun, his mother Jacqui was angry when she received the prime minister's letter of condolence in which he appeared to misspell Guardsman Janes's name as "James". |
| The paper has reproduced the handwritten letter. | The paper has reproduced the handwritten letter. |
| The prime minister has previously admitted problems with his eyesight after a childhood rugby injury. | The prime minister has previously admitted problems with his eyesight after a childhood rugby injury. |
| In a statement, he said: "I take very seriously my responsibility to the bereaved. | In a statement, he said: "I take very seriously my responsibility to the bereaved. |
| I do not think anyone will believe that I write letters with any intent to cause offence Gordon Brown Funeral for blast death soldier Public 'must back Afghan cause' | I do not think anyone will believe that I write letters with any intent to cause offence Gordon Brown Funeral for blast death soldier Public 'must back Afghan cause' |
| "Every time I write a letter to mothers and fathers and partners who have suffered bereavement to express my sincere condolences, it is a moment of personal sadness to me. And I am in awe of the bravery and sacrifice of the men and women of our armed forces. | "Every time I write a letter to mothers and fathers and partners who have suffered bereavement to express my sincere condolences, it is a moment of personal sadness to me. And I am in awe of the bravery and sacrifice of the men and women of our armed forces. |
| "I send a handwritten letter to every family and I often write to more than one member of the family. | "I send a handwritten letter to every family and I often write to more than one member of the family. |
| "I have telephoned Jacqui Janes to apologise for any unintended mistake in the letter. | "I have telephoned Jacqui Janes to apologise for any unintended mistake in the letter. |
| "To all other families whom I have written to, I can only apologise if my handwriting is difficult to read. | "To all other families whom I have written to, I can only apologise if my handwriting is difficult to read. |
| "I have at all times acted in good faith seeking to do the right thing. I do not think anyone will believe that I write letters with any intent to cause offence." | "I have at all times acted in good faith seeking to do the right thing. I do not think anyone will believe that I write letters with any intent to cause offence." |
| 'Debt of gratitude' | 'Debt of gratitude' |
| But Mrs Janes told the Sun that the letter had been "scrawled so quickly I could hardly even read it" and that "some of the words were half-finished". | But Mrs Janes told the Sun that the letter had been "scrawled so quickly I could hardly even read it" and that "some of the words were half-finished". |
| She described it as "disrespectful" and an "insult" to her son. | She described it as "disrespectful" and an "insult" to her son. |
| It has emerged that Mr Brown got Jamie Janes' name wrong in the House of Commons on 14 October when he read out a list of 37 soldiers killed in Afghanistan. | It has emerged that Mr Brown got Jamie Janes' name wrong in the House of Commons on 14 October when he read out a list of 37 soldiers killed in Afghanistan. |
| If that has caused additional upset and grief to a mother who has just lost her son he would be absolutely mortified by that Angela SmithLabour MP | If that has caused additional upset and grief to a mother who has just lost her son he would be absolutely mortified by that Angela SmithLabour MP |
| In a statement, Downing Street said the prime minister took a great deal of time writing to bereaved relatives. | In a statement, Downing Street said the prime minister took a great deal of time writing to bereaved relatives. |
| It added: "The reason he personally writes to every family is to acknowledge the debt of gratitude owed by the country to those who have died to protect the people of Britain." | It added: "The reason he personally writes to every family is to acknowledge the debt of gratitude owed by the country to those who have died to protect the people of Britain." |
| The Sun declared during the Labour Party conference that it was switching its support to the Conservatives for the next general election. | The Sun declared during the Labour Party conference that it was switching its support to the Conservatives for the next general election. |
| George Pascoe Watson, who was the newspaper's political editor until last week, told BBC Radio 4's World at One programme that it was not the Sun attacking the prime minister but Mrs Janes herself. | George Pascoe Watson, who was the newspaper's political editor until last week, told BBC Radio 4's World at One programme that it was not the Sun attacking the prime minister but Mrs Janes herself. |
| He added: "The Sun, believe it or not, doesn't want to personalise it on the prime minister although in a case where a prime minister has written a personal letter it's hard not to personalise it." | He added: "The Sun, believe it or not, doesn't want to personalise it on the prime minister although in a case where a prime minister has written a personal letter it's hard not to personalise it." |
| Ed Miliband: "The prime minister will be upset about what she feels" | Ed Miliband: "The prime minister will be upset about what she feels" |
| Labour MP Angela Smith, who was Mr Brown's parliamentary private secretary until July, told the programme the prime minister sent handwritten letters to show his deep condolences and respect. | Labour MP Angela Smith, who was Mr Brown's parliamentary private secretary until July, told the programme the prime minister sent handwritten letters to show his deep condolences and respect. |
| "If that has caused additional upset and grief to a mother who has just lost her son he would be absolutely mortified by that," she said. | "If that has caused additional upset and grief to a mother who has just lost her son he would be absolutely mortified by that," she said. |
| It is official policy for the prime minister to write to the families of all service personnel killed in action while on operational duties. | It is official policy for the prime minister to write to the families of all service personnel killed in action while on operational duties. |
| According to Ministry of Defence guidelines published on the Parliament website, the letter is drafted by military officials and should ideally be sent within two working days of the death being announced. | According to Ministry of Defence guidelines published on the Parliament website, the letter is drafted by military officials and should ideally be sent within two working days of the death being announced. |
| The defence secretary writes to the families of members of the armed forces who die in service although not on operations. | The defence secretary writes to the families of members of the armed forces who die in service although not on operations. |
| Have you ever received a letter from the prime minister? What is your reaction to this story? Do you agree that Gordon Brown's letter was an "insult"? Send us your comments. | Have you ever received a letter from the prime minister? What is your reaction to this story? Do you agree that Gordon Brown's letter was an "insult"? Send us your comments. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |