Brown misspelt name of dead soldier

GORDON BROWN said yesterday he had apologised to the grieving mother of a soldier killed in Afghanistan for “any unintended mistake” in a handwritten letter of condolence.

The Prime Minister spoke by telephone with Jacqui Janes after learning of her distress over the message, sent after her son Jamie, 20, of the 1st Battalion The Grenadier Guards, was killed by an explosion on October 5, which began “Dear Mrs James”.

In a statement, Mr Brown said: “I take very seriously my responsibility to the bereaved.