Press sympathy for embattled PM

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Newspapers find themselves uneasy at the criticism of Gordon Brown after he wrote to the mother of a soldier killed in Afghanistan and misspelled her name.

Even the Daily Express - which says it "detests" the PM's values - is moved to say: "He does not deserve this."

<a class="inlineText" href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-1226759/DAILY-MAIL-COMMENT-How-Brown-make-amends-Mrs-Janes.html">The Daily Mail too, feels bound to speak up</a> in his defence.

"Inept though his letter may have been, there is no doubting his good intentions or the sincerity of his condolences," it says.

'Excruciating'

In his weekly news conference, the prime minister appeared shaken by criticism of his letter to the mother of a soldier killed in Afghanistan.

Those present owned up to unease but still passed judgement on Gordon Brown.

<a class="inlineText" href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/nov/11/simon-hoggart-sketch-gordon-brown">"It was excruciating," said the Guardian's Simon Hoggart.</a> "Some consultant had been brought in and told him to let it all hang out."

<a class="inlineText" href="http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/simon-carr/the-sketch-hes-forgotten-the-first-rule-of-leadership-indifference-1818213.html">The Independent's Simon Carr saw policy being driven</a> by "prime ministerial embarrassment".

'Fresh thinking'

<a class="inlineText" href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/telegraph-view/6539812/David-Camerons-Tories-must-have-the-will-to-reform-welfare.html">According to the Daily Telegraph, the "most expensive missed opportunity" under Labour</a> has been its failure to reform the welfare system.

Agreeing with Tory leader David Cameron that the state "smothered self-reliance and personal responsibility", it warns political will is needed for change.

<a class="inlineText" href="http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/leading-articles/leading-article-an-attractive-destination-but-an-unclear-journey-1818169.html">The Independent too welcomed the "fresh thinking"</a> which painted an attractive picture of Mr Cameron's "destination".

But it says he was "less convincing" about how he intends to get there.

Radio waves

<a class="inlineText" href="http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2723915/Rail-boss-tells-staff-to-use-coaches-because-train-is-too-expensive.html">The Sun reports that Network Rail staff are to travel from Reading to Coventry for a conference by coach</a> because using the train would be far more expensive.

It says 200 tickets by rail would have cost £27,000, with coach travel priced at less than a tenth of that sum.

The Telegraph's letters page has attracted contributions from readers objecting to annoying gesticulations of some TV news reporters.

One correspondent asks: "Do radio announcers wave their hands about too?"