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Gordon Brown: Sorry if you can’t read my handwriting
Rashid Razaq and Felix Allen09.11.09
Gordon Brown today apologised for his poor handwriting and for misspelling the name of a dead soldier in a letter to the young man's mother.
His words, which were unusually candid and humble, came after he was accused of showing disrespect in the handwritten letter of condolences to the family of a Grenadier Guardsman. Jamie Janes, 20, died in a roadside bomb blast in Afghanistan on 5 October.
“I take very seriously my responsibility to the bereaved,” the Prime Minister began in the statement released this afternoon by No 10. “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.”
Mr Brown, who was criticised ferociously by Guardsman Janes' mother, Jacqui, went on: “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. 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.”
It is the first time that Mr Brown has publicly acknowledged the poor state of his handwriting, which is found shocking by some recipients of letters but is due to his partial blindness. The letter to Mrs Janes, in his characteristic scrawl using a thick-tipped pen to make the letters more visible, appeared to misspell the family name as “James”. In addition, Jamie's name appeared to have been written wrongly and scruffily corrected.
The statement came after a morning of mounting political pressure on Mr Brown. It began with Mrs Janes giving her story to the Sun, which alleged there were 20 mistakes in the letter. Downing Street rejected that, saying some alleged errors were simply down to Mr Brown's “unique” style of handwriting.
Mrs Janes, 47, said: “The very least I would expect from Gordon Brown is to get his name right. The letter was scrawled so quickly I could hardly even read it and some of the words were half-finished. It's just disrespectful.”
Mr Brown telephoned Mrs Janes last night to apologise personally — but the attempt to mollify her backfired when his spokesman today seemed unwilling to acknowledge he had made mistakes. The spokesman said he was deeply sorry “for the way she [the mother] feels” about the error-strewn letter — a form of words that critics called a non-apology.
“The hand-written letter clearly contains mistakes on the basis that the person who received it has misread those words,” his spokesman went on. Critics said No 10 appeared to be blaming Mrs Janes for “misreading” the letter.
The spokesman went on: “Some people's handwriting is easier to read than others. Everyone acknowledges that the Prime Minister's handwriting is of a particular style. That is not a criticism of the Prime Minister.”
No 10 officials say such mistakes are impossible to avoid and they stressed that Mr Brown is painstaking about writing handwritten letters rather than get officials to draft them and type them on his behalf.
Lesley Hicks, whose 26-year-old son Captain David Hicks died leading his troops in Afghanistan in August 2007, said the letters sent out to grieving families should be “perfect”.
Mrs Hicks, 60, and her husband Alun received a letter from Gordon Brown after their son, of the 1st Battalion the Royal Anglian Regiment, died after refusing morphine so he could lead 50 men in a counter-offensive against a rocket position.
Mrs Hicks, from Finchampstead, Surrey, said: “It is a personal letter and any handwriting is personal. I can understand how people feel. Mistakes are made and they should not be. I don't think it (getting a name wrong) is necessarily the Prime Minister's fault. It is his aide. People are not careful enough.”
Reader views (70)
This story has misfired. I'm not a Brown fan but I'm impressed that he writes at all - and by hand. Has anyone found out whether Thatcher did the same during the Falklands war?
- Sister Sophie, Wales
Forget about Brown this or that,presonnally I think he is dreadful but that's not the real issue here. We need to kit these guys out properly. Most of them are actually quite annoyed by all the media (mostly "embedded" journos who scarper when the heat is on) who don't really understand that they are proud to be doing what they are doing and would maybe confess to even enjoying it. They do need the right kit though. In the States brothers, sisters, friends etc organise social events to raise money for bullet proof jackets and walkie talkies etc. Might seem dire and wrong but at least the guys on the line get what they need.
- Will, London
Let's face it - we all have a serious beef with Brown! He is an idiot Prime Minister who has dragged us from a position of sickly economy to near terminal whilst the rest of the world has come close but is showing signs of improvement already. He has kept our boys in a questionable "war" where they have been under supplied and less than fully supported and he has undermined many of our rights and needs to privacy. This is a failing of his leadership, not a failing due to his disability which, to his credit, he manages to make an almost non-issue!
He is a visually impaired person (VIP) and uses a thick pen to aid him in writing. He made 2 mistakes, the spelling error and not having the letter proof-read after writing it. That said, this is a complete travesty of a story.
Despite the tragic circumstances for "Family Janes", a simple outraged reply directly to the PM would have prompted a very quick and heartfelt apology. However using your grief and outrage to publicly (and politically) disgrace anyone who is a VIP is simply wrong.
If you had a handicap, would you be happy to be disgraced like this? Many would consider it a despicable thing to target!
- Paul M, Liverpool
How does a man who obviously cannot spell or write a proper letter becomes a leader of this country ? I can now understand why Bitish major assets including Nuclear power now belong to foreign firms or Governments eg:- EDF.
- Stan White, leeds
God knows I have little or no time for Gordon Brown but, for Heavens sake, enough is enough. Mrs Janes should take heart - when my Grandfather was killed at Dunkerque, all my Grandmother received was a telegram advising her that he was missing, believed killed, followed two days later by a letter warning her that she could not claim his Naval pension any longer and that, if she had already claimed it since the date of his presumed death, she must repay it! No handwritten letter from Winston Churchill for her. Nothing can make it better but at least Gordon Brown tried to do the right thing (even if our soldiers shouldn't be there in the first place).
- Charlie Puckett, Hounslow, Middlesex
Your photo of Gordon Brown says it all. He will follow the same defeat John Major (standing just behind him) had at the start of Labour's time - massive. What about a strategy, true equipment,listening to the Generals, other NATO allies pulling their weight and pressure on the Afghanistan/Pakistan Government to put their own fire out. Was Mr Brown closing his eyes to reality.
- Andrew, London
Just remember that Gordon Brown is the Prime Minister of this Country and represents us all.. It is not much to ask that he can spell and write accurately and legibly. It is obvious his mathematics are worse than his English though.
- Paul Mccarthy, barton uk
To all the respondents who have written in bad terms about Gordon Brown's,accidental spelling mistake, I say this; how many personally written & signed letters did Mrs.Thatcher send to the families of the servicemen who lost their lives in the Falklands war? I suggest NONE!! Our Prime Minister to his great credit has taken time out to write to every family bereaved in this current conflict.
When you consider the difference between Janes and James the mistake is surely understanderstable. On how many other occasions in Mrs Janes life has the same mistake occured? If it has happened before she is probably accustomed to it. No; she contacts "The Sun" and they send a newsreel team to her house to make capital of what is a minor error for which she has already received a sincere apology.
- Patrick Churchill, Goffs Oak Herts
Whilst Brown and the Handwritten letter has been blown
out of all proportion the fact of the matter is care
should have been taken in writing to the Bereaved.
A rushed, poorly spelt response, however sincere, will receive a adverse reaction as happened here!
Brown should learn from this in the closing days of
his Premiership!
- Mike Adams, Taunton
I think it's a perfect example of NuLabour thinking. Having appalling handwriting is not your fault, not being able to spell is not your fault. Any wonder our education system is in such a state? Also if writing to somebody who's son has been killed carrying out your orders you could at least start agin if you make a mistake rather than crossing out like a six year old.
- Mark, London
There's no point in blaming Brown. He is a complete idiot and should not be allowed out without his keepers. His myopathy is not the problem, it's his stupidity in thinking we can't see him for the buffoon he is. His decisions kill our soldiers.
- Jamal Akhbar, Edinburgh
Given a couple or so years and you will all be saying the same things about Cameron,where does it end?
- Davey_Bouy, Chertsey UK
Well good for you, Jacqui Williams of Peterborough, Cambs. Not only do you have a sight disability (not your fault), but also a patronising, smug attitude to others' faults (definitely your fault). At least Brown has shown humanity by attempting the personal touch, a trait which you could well do with adopting.
- Haskey, London SE1
If you wish to write a letter personally that is a good thing.In this case a mother has lost her son. If the Pm's handwriting is not good, which it isn't, due to his sight then fair enough. He must decide whether or not to have it typed and then sign it or get his incompetent aides, to at
least check the hand written letter for spelling and legibility. That really is not too much to ask for the bereaved.
- Macdangler, Wimbledon SW19
There is no excuse. I am registered severe sight blind with only one eye to see with and that is very limited the cornea is very thin and there is only a portion of it that I can see with rhe rest is opaque but I do not write like Brown I use a gel pen with a med nip and in black. I have watched Brown walking up steps of planes etc and he has more sight than I have and I would not dream of writing like that to anyone in fact I would ask some one to check it for me just incase and I am very proud and independant but unlike Brown I am not arrogant. I do on play on my inability to see and believe me I cannot see at all well I can only read an inch from my eye any further and it is like looking through a fog. so I do not feel sorry for him there are plenty of people in this same position who would not let a letter go like that
- Jacqui Williams, peterborough cambs
I am sure Brown is mortified, as anyone of us would be in the same situation.
Making adverse comments about this human error demeans the memory of the serviceman; his mother's anger or ditress is natural and to be expected but the matter should never have reached such prominence.
On this occasion, I have a degree of sympathy for Brown.
- Mahjong Pieces, London
I feel sad for this bereaved mother and all others who lose their children, brothers, husbands and partners, fathers. Unfortunately when a person enlists in the Armed Forces you can expect possible wounding or fatalality when fighting is needed.
However sad at her loss, this mother should not have gone to The Sun - what possible good could it do?
Gordon Brown was left a Country to run that was already in deep trouble, most of us did not realise it at the time he took over. I doubt that anyone could have done a much better job as all the bad things were in the pipeline. Tony Blair got out in the nick of time and he is laughing all the way to the bank; a bit like when Margaret Thatcher was ousted and poor John Major was handed a weeping baby.
GB took the time and trouble to write a condolence letter which is surely one of the harder things to do. Handwriting and good spelling can deteriorate when time is short and the mind is working faster than the hand can move.
Get things in perspective you people of Britain, teach your children to write and spell, teach them manners and consideration.
- Ann, Chelmsford, UK.
"It's a shame that this story's got more media coverage than the incident which led to his tragic passing. RIP Guardsman Janes."
- Kc, Upminster
Hear! hear!
There is nothing that McBrown can do to make up for the loss of this brave young man in NuLiebour's vainglorious war; especially a half-hearted letter, which looks like he scrawled it with a crayon whilst sitting on the bog.
- Keith Lonsdale, Doncaster
Shame on Jacqui! Jamie Janes's spiteful mother has sullied her son'e name by dragging him into a tabloid story. How much did the Sun pay her? Gordon Brown did the best he could. Does anyone genuinely believe that Brown was being disrespectful? He is the first Prime Minister to send hand-written letters. Say what you will about the man, but at least he is genuine!
- Haskey, London SE1
I'm way down on the list of people who would support Gordon Brown as a Prime Minister - but that is because of the things that he does that are just WRONG.
The intent of these letters does not come under that heading.
GB is known to have not just poor handwriting, but just plain lousy handwriting. It happens, folks. Not everyone focussed on calligraphy as an interest in life. Spelling errors happen (and by the way, the finger should be pointed at his aides as much as him on this - they KNOW his writing abilities - as I see to her credit Mrs Hicks realised herself).
Personally, as a man, if not in his politics, he has gone up in my estimation for taking on the task of writing to individuals himself in a form that cannot be mistaken for mere form letters with hastily scribbled signatures that mean nothing.
That idiot of a spokesman who tried to come up with a politician's response to a personal matter involving grief, even this long after the event, needs either a smack on the back of the head, or a boot in the nether regions - or better, both.
- Rogan, Irving
To me it is not just 'spelling' which some comments seem to think of it as. It is the name of a deceased young man. At this time it is all-important to the bereaved, and a simple task for someone of Gordon Brown's status to check (or have it checked by aides)for correctness.
- Grace, Ashford UK
"Gordon, you would NOT allow the People of this country to make such errors, that’s the point....
- Ian B, Reading, England"
Sorry what is your point - surely it can't be the literal meaning.
- Richard, London
Whilst I feel deeply for this lady and her family it is a shame that she acted in the way she did if she was upset by the way in which the letter was written she should have taken the matter up directly with Gordon Brown and not have allowed the newspaper to try and score political points against a PM and a government that it is trying remove from office.It is clear that Gordon Brown has sight problems and they may well be worsening in his good eye however this should not be against him to score political points.
- Mike M, Bedford England
I believe Gordon Brown was very sincere in writing the letter. He is a victim of his own style of micro management. The letter should have been typed by a competent personal assistant or secretary with the PM proof reading it, then adding Dear Mrs. Janes at the top in his own hand-writing and adding his signature at the bottom. I had experience with these type of letters while serving with the United Nations in the middle east and that's how it was done. It could be that a condolence letter from the Secretary of Defence would have been sufficient. In any case, my condolences to Mrs. Janes and all the other bereaved relatives.
- Gabriel, Edinburgh UK
The PM just can't win!! If he had chosen not to write a letter, he would have been condemned. The Sun have taken advantage of this poor woman's grief.
- Kunle Sotunde, London
At least he acknowledged the guy which is more than can be said for past Prime Ministers, could you see Blair or Thatcher doing this.
- Dc, London
I am also no GB fan and am not a Labour voter. I agree with most posters here who say The Sun has blown things out of proportion for it's own politicals ends. I would add that being so unfair to Brown on issues such as this (and others) the popular right wing press may be the catalysts for garnering sympathetic support for GB.
- Coys Switz, switzerland
It's a shame that this story's got more media coverage than the incident which led to his tragic passing. RIP Guardsman Janes.
- Kc, Upminster
The lady is in grief and The Sun have taken advantage of her to make their point about GB.
- Adam, london uk
I am not an apologist for Gordon Brown but I think a hand written letter is so much more personal than a typed letter. He did the right thing. An m can be easily mistaken for an n in a handwritten letter.
- Sue, Worcester UK
I accept readily that Gordon Brown meant no disrespect, but perhaps there lies the problem. The PM has staff who can check what he has written and make sure its as intended. That the letter was handwritten does not alter this fact, however praiseworthy a personal note may be. That such checking either did not occur or was badly done does suggest that the task, at some point, was not treated with due care and respect. And it was not as some are suggesting just the name that was misspelt. Having said that I do think too much is being made of it.
- James Elliott, Eastborne UK
This whole overblown story has more to with Murdoch getting worried about "Dave's" current dismal performances.
- Derek Porter, London, UK
This happens when you try spin. He is trying to show he cares by writing letters no-one can read. It would be far more dignified for him to send a beautifully typed letter with his signature. From the family's point of view, it can only cause distress to receive a note which does not make sense. As for our lads being in Afghanistan for 'our safety'... surely it would make more sense not to allow dangerous people into our country and deport those who are bent on harming us. Much safer! Never mind their 'human rights', what about the rights of brave young people who do not know what they are giving their lives for.
- Beatriz, London
Browns style of handwriting reflects his state of mind,disjointed and unfathomable,it also shows a very troubled mind,after the damage he has inflicted on this once proud nation,he has good reason to feel troubled.
- General Lee Wright, Bent Kent, fragmented UK.
Brown does not know these beraeaved or indeed the dead personally, and it is not necessary for him to contrive intimacy by writing in his own hand, be it it legible or not. He knows his writing bis barely legible, and it would be a common courtesy for him the have the letters typed up so that they can actually be read. He can perfectly well add the personal touch by signing them himself. That is normal etiquette. No one could possibly take offence at that.
- Sandy, Ealing, London
M o'brien
You say you met a 68-year old veteran of D Day.
If he is 68, he was born in 1941 and would have been a small child on D Day,
- Jargonaut, South London
People should stop taking offence when there is none intended.
- Victoria, London
Mr Brown is obviously thick. My 11 year old can spell, but oh no, not the PM!
- Rod, Epping, UK
This letter business has been used to attack Brown, then counter spun by Brown's people to make him look vulnerable. Get real, unless you are posting here on behalf of Labour Brown is simply not up to the job. This current error is nothing and he has made an unfortunate but small blunder with no doubt good intentions. His record as PM, on the other hand, is a music hall joke.
- Matt, London
I can't understand the amount of vilification being directed against Gordon Brown, and the majority of posters to this site would appear to concur with that view.-His well intentioned note of condolences to the distraught mother of this courageous soldier should not have been subjected to this grammatical nit-picking, and used as a stick to beat him with by The Sun newspaper,- openly hostile to Brown and Labour. I'm no apologist for Gordon Brown, but fortunately, as I've stated, most fair minded people see through this implied slur for what it is!
- Huggy, Cumbernauld Scotland
Gordon, you would NOT allow the People of this country to make such errors, that’s the point. We agree it is trivial and was not the intention, but we now live in a country thanks to you, that does not permit its People any latitude, a place where you seek full control, a place where you have destroyed as common sense, a place where a different view point is against the Laws. Gordon, you have created a country where your Political Class is intolerant to the People. We now live in a country where you no longer stand up or support democracy. You can’t tolerate us and we can’t tolerate
It is as usual one Law for the Political Class and another for the People.
- Ian B, Reading, England
No fan of GB..but shame on the Sun for manipulating a mother's grief to pursue their own Anti Brown agenda.
- Mike, London
Good on the PM for hand writting letters to the poor families. I think it shows that however much of a floored PM he has been, he is actually quite a decent person.
- James, London
Gordon Brown only goes up in my estimation. All the rubbish thrown at him and he still just gets on with the job. Just about anyone else would be off for 6 months on stress related illness if they had to put up with what the press has thrown at this man. History will judge him with far greater charity than this nasty little nation has afforded him to date.
- Peace Maker, Battersea
"The hand-written letter clearly contains mistakes on the basis that the person who received it has misread those words," his spokesman told reporters.
Errr....run that one by me again please.
- East, London
Call me old fashioned but surely it's the sentiment that counts?
Some people are never happy. Maybe she would have been happier with a photocopied letter written by some office junior and just signed by Gordon Brown. Damned if he does, damned if he doesn't me thinks.
- Leon, London
Cut the man some slack! Yes should have double-checked... yes should have been more careful. NO... cannot be deliberate. Must have been the hardest thing in the world to write as well. Put yourself in his shoes!
- Sanjay, Hounslow, UK
I don't think it disrespectful but it is indicative of the man's total inability to do things properly and with the appopriate degree of attention. Those citing that being one eyed is some form of mitigation need to do a bit more reading themselves.
- David, Yorkshire
Her grief is no excuse to discriminate someone who is blind in one eye. Of course it effects his writing skills,duh! And remember, he has lost a child as well.
I am not a supporter of Gordon Brown but on humanitarian grounds he doesn't deserve this nasty nit-picking.
- Janet, London, UK
With all due respect get a grip. It's a spelling mistake.
- Anon, UK
Given that the Prime Minister is blind in one eye errors when writing hand written notes are bound to happen. The fault lies with the Civil Servents who failed to proof read this and any other letters properly and not with the Prime Minister who has to cope with a busy schedule 24/7.
No doubt if he did not respond using a hand written note he would then be castigated by the same people who are complaining here.
Fact is with his disibility it is wrong to expect "copper plate" handwriting!
- Melvyn Windebank, Canvey Island, Essex
Yes I feel it is very very sad the lady lost her son , but P M Brown has a huge work load and we all when not using a pc with word checkmake spelling miskakes , and the other day when it was reported Mr. Brown is blind in one eye , it is a disgrace to punish him in this dreadful way .. yours etc. Andrew Davies ..Bulgaria
- Andrew Davies, Veliko Turnovo
I'd just like to point out to Frederick that 'we' are not 'trying to impose our culture' on the people of Afghanistan: their democratically elected Government has requested international assistance to fight international terrorists which are adversely affecting its citizens: the Afghani people broadly welcome the presence of British troops, which are trying to defend them without altering their customs or beliefs - the exact opposite of Al Q'aeda. I'd have thought your insinuations about the work Jamie Janes died doing is frankly more insulting than the PM mis-spelling his name.
- Roz, France
Alan, it is ridiculous to be so hasty when the ultimate sacrifice has been made, it is stomach churning that your compassion for that soldiers mother can't stop your hand from sending such a vile and insensitive note to a blog. To seek to do down what is for that family a very real pain is contemptable.
- Christian Ball, London, UK
The Prime Minister did not disrespect her and not everyone’s handwriting is not perfect. At least it was hand written and not one of those printed ones where he signs the bottom. Nit picking on a letter & going to the papers will not help the grief.
- Jacqui, London
Talk about blowing something out of all proportions...
- D.W., London
Case studies show that some of the world's most intelligent people have terrible writing which is difficult to read and littered with spelling mistakes. However, surely the PM has a PA/Secretary who can double check all correspondence that leaves his office. This being the case, shame on them. Never been a fan of the man, but this scenario really is something that should have been kept out of the newspapers, especially as it seems to have been leaked by the dead soldiers mother. Her anger is for the situation, her son's death and not necessarily at GB's lack of knowledge on correct spelling. May her son RIP.
- Jennifer, London, England
Come on ES! Get a handwritng expert onto this letter, analyze it, and tell us what Crash Gordon is all about.
- Justin Time, London
Possibly a typing error when the names were passed to Gordon Brown. I am sure any lack of respect was imaginary rather than real, although I can understand the distress felt by the families of the soldiers who lost their lives. Gordon Brown looks as if he is under tremendous pressure at the moment so he gets a sympathy vote from me. How about we give the man a break?
- Graham Rodhouse, Helmond, Netherlands
Having seen the architecs of chaos 'dutifully' on parade, laying wreaths on the cenitaph, but doubtless
wishing they were did not have to be there. i then visited the field of rememberance outside westminster
cathedral, more simple wooden crosses than a man could count and that was just a handful of those still in memory. there among the vast sections of regiments, services and other organisations who lost members, i came across the recently killed. again simple and small
wooden crosses, but this time with passport size photos of the faces of those so recently gone to glory.
i talked to a 68 year old vetran of d.day (utah beach
as a 22 year old he was put on an adapted thames barge
overloaded with petrol and at 4 knots sailed off to normandy, two of his shipmates were washed off on the journey, but he and his load made it across. he had more medals than room to display them, including (for a brit unusual) a purple heart, but he wasn't sure he could legitimately wear it.i met a scot, who saw service in korea and africa. although proud to have served, neither
thought the sacrifice of so many was worth it and were saddened at the cruel and callous waste.
perhaps if all politicians who so easily consign so many
to sacrifice, horrendous service, terrifying trauma and possible death, had to be first to go to the front line and serve on active service, or committ to send there
sons and daughters, or spouses they might longer consider
their glib decisions.
- M.O'Brien, london.uk
It's ridiculous to blame Brown personally for this: it is also a story that doesn't deserve anywhere near the prominence it has been given. Please can we have some real news.
- Alan, London
I'm no fan of Gordon Brown but mistakes of this minuscule magnitude should not be reported - it leads to mockery of a mother whose judgment is being affected by grief. Attack him for his appalling policies and his mistakes in virtually every area he has touched but not this.
- Rupert Rg, Brighton, East Sussex
Again and again this man shows disdain for ordinary mortals and confirms the attitude that their is nobody more important than himself, one Gordon Brown.
"Brown, go and go now".
- Bingham Macnamara, lymington, hampshire
Frederick - With the greatest respect to Mrs Janes, and I'm sure in her grief she is particularly emotional at present, but to turn an "n" that may or may not look like an "m" into a political comment as you have done is at best disingenous and at worst outrageous given the circumstances.
- Richard, London UK
Mel Davis - Brown (unfortunately for us) is the Prime Minister with paid staff. He is writing to the bereaved mother of a soldier fighting in a more than questionable war - not scribbling a note to the milkman.
- Susie, London
It's like that mantra they trot out at PMQ's every week, when they "pay tribute" to the soldiers killed in Afghanistan. The wording is so formulaic and is said so often it loses any sincerity - "he's in our thoughts" etc. etc.
I'd bet anything that neither the Prime Minister nor the Defence Minister could name any of the soldiers killed, even five minutes after they read out their names.
- David, Doha Qatar
Has Gorod dropped off again in theat photo? He always looks tired, maybe he should step down.
- Bob, Cheam
Being blind in one eye is hardly an excuse for bad spelling. And he wasn't too busy to give a completeley fatuous interview for GQ magazine or give his opinion on the X-Factor. It's time he went.
- Paul, London
I don't wish to be disingenuous, it is very sad that this Mrs Janes has lost her son, however a busy Prime Minister has taken time out of his day to pen a handwritten note and she is complaining about his spelling! This is just nit-picking in the extreme; the Prime Minister is blind in one eye and I think moaners who jump on every little thing he does should remember that.
- Mel Davis, London
Janes and James could easily be mistaken. If he really cared about this he would have double-checked. Your son was a hero to you and a victim of a political class who never admit wrong. Otherwise, the army would have left Afghanistan a long time ago. We have been trying to impose our culture on them since Victorian Times. Isn't about time we admitted failure?
- Frederick, London
