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Soldier's mother hits out at PM Soldier's mother hits out at PM
(10 minutes later)
The mother of a soldier killed in Afghanistan has said she hopes the prime minister has "sleepless nights".The mother of a soldier killed in Afghanistan has said she hopes the prime minister has "sleepless nights".
Jacqui Janes said that, in a handwritten letter of condolence from Gordon Brown, her son Jamie's name appeared to have been corrected.Jacqui Janes said that, in a handwritten letter of condolence from Gordon Brown, her son Jamie's name appeared to have been corrected.
She told ITN she was angry that the prime minister "couldn't be bothered to start again".She told ITN she was angry that the prime minister "couldn't be bothered to start again".
Mr Brown told a press conference earlier: "The last thing on my mind was to cause any offence."Mr Brown told a press conference earlier: "The last thing on my mind was to cause any offence."
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.
'Difficult job''Difficult job'
In an interview, Mrs Janes - who also says that the prime minister misspelt her surname "James" in the letter - said other mothers of dead soldiers who had received notes of condolence felt "similarly" aggrieved.In an interview, Mrs Janes - who also says that the prime minister misspelt her surname "James" in the letter - said other mothers of dead soldiers who had received notes of condolence felt "similarly" aggrieved.
She said: "I'm pleased that he's taken the time, so is every other mother. But a bit more compassion, just to have started [writing the letter] again maybe."She said: "I'm pleased that he's taken the time, so is every other mother. But a bit more compassion, just to have started [writing the letter] again maybe."
I'm a parent who understands the feelings when something goes terribly, terribly wrong Gordon Brown I feel soldier mother's pain - PM
Mrs Janes, from Brighton, East Sussex, said she felt "sorry" for Mr Brown, as he was doing a "difficult" job.Mrs Janes, from Brighton, East Sussex, said she felt "sorry" for Mr Brown, as he was doing a "difficult" job.
She added that more needed to be done to equip troops serving in Afghanistan.She added that more needed to be done to equip troops serving in Afghanistan.
Mr Brown, who suffers from poor eyesight, told his monthly press conference 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."Mr Brown, who suffers from poor eyesight, told his monthly press conference 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."
He also said: "I apologised to Jacqui Janes yesterday for any mistakes that had been made.He also said: "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."
Mr Brown said he had ordered a "full report" into Guardsman Janes's death.Mr Brown said he had ordered a "full report" into Guardsman Janes's death.
Falklands War veteran Simon Weston came to Mr Brown's defence, saying his letter to Mrs Janes was "clumsy at worst".Falklands War veteran Simon Weston came to Mr Brown's defence, saying his letter to Mrs Janes was "clumsy at worst".
He said: "A hand-written letter is something not a lot of us get in life any more.He said: "A hand-written letter is something not a lot of us get in life any more.
"I think it was something done with the greatest of sincerity, but certainly not with any malice aforethought to damage or to insult."I think it was something done with the greatest of sincerity, but certainly not with any malice aforethought to damage or to insult.
"I think we need to go back a little bit and take stock of what is really important.""I think we need to go back a little bit and take stock of what is really important."