This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/8352041.stm
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| I feel soldier mother's pain - PM | I feel soldier mother's pain - PM |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| Gordon Brown has said he "understands" the grief felt by a dead soldier's mother who called his condolence letter a "hastily scrawled insult". | Gordon Brown has said he "understands" the grief felt by a dead soldier's mother who called his condolence letter a "hastily scrawled insult". |
| Jacqui Janes accused the prime minister of misspelling her surname "James" in a note about her son Jamie, 20. | Jacqui Janes accused the prime minister of misspelling her surname "James" in a note about her son Jamie, 20. |
| But Mr Brown told his monthly press conference: "The last thing on my mind was to cause any offence." | But Mr Brown told his monthly press conference: "The last thing on my mind was to cause any offence." |
| The prime minister said he had asked for a full report into Guardsman Janes's death. | The prime minister said he had asked for a full report into Guardsman Janes's death. |
| When Mr Brown telephoned Mrs Janes on Sunday, she challenged him over a shortage of helicopters in Afghanistan, the Sun, which publishes a full transcript of the conversation, reports. | When Mr Brown telephoned Mrs Janes on Sunday, she challenged him over a shortage of helicopters in Afghanistan, the Sun, which publishes a full transcript of the conversation, reports. |
| 'Stark human cost' | 'Stark human cost' |
| Guardsman Janes, of 1st Battalion The Grenadier Guards, was killed in an explosion in October while on foot patrol in Helmand province. | Guardsman Janes, of 1st Battalion The Grenadier Guards, was killed in an explosion in October while on foot patrol in Helmand province. |
| The real debate - beneath all this anguish - is surely whether men like Guardsman Janes died in vain or made a sacrifice that is vital to protecting their country Nick RobinsonBBC political editor Read Nick's thoughts in full Brown, the Sun and the dead soldier | |
| Mr Brown, whose 10-day-old baby daughter Jennifer Jane died in 2002, told his press conference: "I'm a parent also. | Mr Brown, whose 10-day-old baby daughter Jennifer Jane died in 2002, told his press conference: "I'm a parent also. |
| "I feel the pain of people who lose their loved ones. I understand when people are grieving that they are looking for the answers that I talked about earlier. | "I feel the pain of people who lose their loved ones. I understand when people are grieving that they are looking for the answers that I talked about earlier. |
| "I'm a parent who understands the feelings when something goes terribly, terribly wrong and I understand how long it takes to handle the grief that we have all experienced." | "I'm a parent who understands the feelings when something goes terribly, terribly wrong and I understand how long it takes to handle the grief that we have all experienced." |
| He also said: "I feel for the mother's grief. I understand the pain that she is going through. | He also said: "I feel for the mother's grief. I understand the pain that she is going through. |
| "It's a terrible personal sadness and raises questions in your mind about what could have been done." | "It's a terrible personal sadness and raises questions in your mind about what could have been done." |
| 'Courageous' | 'Courageous' |
| Mr Brown added: "When there's a personal loss as deep and immediate as she has experienced it takes time to recover. | Mr Brown added: "When there's a personal loss as deep and immediate as she has experienced it takes time to recover. |
| "That loss can never be replaced. You have got to take it one day at a time. You have got to think of the rest of your family. | "That loss can never be replaced. You have got to take it one day at a time. You have got to think of the rest of your family. |
| "Over time comfort comes from understanding that your son has played an important part... died in such a courageous way that no-one can ever forget him." | "Over time comfort comes from understanding that your son has played an important part... died in such a courageous way that no-one can ever forget him." |
| Mr Brown went on: "I apologised to Jacqui Janes yesterday for any mistakes that had been made. | Mr Brown went on: "I apologised to Jacqui Janes yesterday for any mistakes that had been made. |
| "I also said to anybody whom I have written to, if my writing is difficult to read, I apologise for that." | "I also said to anybody whom I have written to, if my writing is difficult to read, I apologise for that." |
| HAVE YOUR SAYI feel sorry for this woman but Brown as well - I think he is caught between a rock and a hard place with few optionsCharlie Patey, Reading Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAYI feel sorry for this woman but Brown as well - I think he is caught between a rock and a hard place with few optionsCharlie Patey, Reading Send us your comments |
| Mr Brown defended the government's provision of medical support and equipment such as helicopters to forces stationed in Afghanistan. | Mr Brown defended the government's provision of medical support and equipment such as helicopters to forces stationed in Afghanistan. |
| He said he had asked for a "full report" on the circumstances of Guardsman Janes's death, to establish whether his mother was right to believe that better helicopter capability could have saved his life. | He said he had asked for a "full report" on the circumstances of Guardsman Janes's death, to establish whether his mother was right to believe that better helicopter capability could have saved his life. |
| He added that the government had to "explain to people satisfactorily what we have to do" in Afghanistan. | He added that the government had to "explain to people satisfactorily what we have to do" in Afghanistan. |
| The bodies of six other UK servicemen - five of whom were shot by a "rogue" Afghan policeman last week - are to be repatriated later on Tuesday. | The bodies of six other UK servicemen - five of whom were shot by a "rogue" Afghan policeman last week - are to be repatriated later on Tuesday. |
| Mr Brown said: "Each life lost is an irreplaceable loss for a family. It reminds us all of the stark human cost of armed conflict in the service of our society." | Mr Brown said: "Each life lost is an irreplaceable loss for a family. It reminds us all of the stark human cost of armed conflict in the service of our society." |
| Gill Grigg, chairman of the War Widows' Association, told BBC Radio 4's World at One: "I think it's very sad that the letter wasn't checked for any mistakes, but on the other hand I think that the prime minister finding time to write a personal letter to the family of every soldier or member of the Armed Forces who dies in service... I think that's really a wonderful gesture." | Gill Grigg, chairman of the War Widows' Association, told BBC Radio 4's World at One: "I think it's very sad that the letter wasn't checked for any mistakes, but on the other hand I think that the prime minister finding time to write a personal letter to the family of every soldier or member of the Armed Forces who dies in service... I think that's really a wonderful gesture." |