• Brown: Sorry if you can't read my handwriting
• Exposed: Conversation in full
• Commentary: Slip of the pen and slack work by aides are fatal combination

Reader views (98)

 Add your view

GB did the most decent thing he oould by sending a hand written apology to this mother. If he hadn't it would have wrong, if it hand been a standard letter it wouldn't have been personal or from the heart. GB has a tough job he may not be the best PM to lead the Labour government but at least he has a heart.

- Jules, Burton on Trent

"Brown has never been elected PM."

"Unelected PM sending young men to die in an unpopular war."

It seems some people think we live in the USA or Iran. The UK elected a Party. That's what we do in the UK. Even then, the nation knew who was jointly running the country and who would step in. It has also happened before in 1990, 1976 and beyond. Get a grip.

- Dan, London

Ms Janes is being used disgracefully by some clever journalist... she is supposed to be grieving for her Son... how can she be so cool, calculating and clever, while grieving for her son?

I feel sorry that she lost her son, but come on, Jamie knew what he was getting up to when he joined the army.

Now she is saying she feels humbled that Gordon Brown called her... I think this whole episode should never have been aired in public and if the Sun Newspaper are behind this, they have to pay. This is disgraceful and I really hope they go after the Sun for this... it is all a set up and they used Ms Janes...

The bravery of all our soldiers should be upmost in our minds and the sacrifice they make to keep us all safe, is incredible and if I am being honest, I could not do this...

As for the comments regarding Gordon Brown, yes he is our Prime Minister and is not doig a good job... but remember, we can fix this come the election... so instead of leaving comments on website, lets use our feet and register our vote...

- Lj, London

Whilst more than a little reluctant to condemn the actions of a grief-stricken mother in going public, the NEWSPAPER in question should have known better; whatever the Sun's explanation for its actions, seeking to make capital out of this tragedy is despicably sordid. The gutter press, indeed!

- Kevin J. Lynch, Dublin, Ireland

Mrs Janes represents thousands of relatives of soldiers who are wandering the same thing - why has this government denied our lads the equipment to save their lives? Why should another son be left to bleed to death because of Brown's cuts?
Why is Brown not reducing the 8 BILLION, yes 8 BILLION budget for foreign aid? Why are they throwing billions at third world immigrants, but cut back on troop equipment? Why has Labour housed the enemy in our country? Why Brown, why?

- Richard, Hastings

Hold on a minute, are you trying to say that GB is so heartless as to make a mistake on purpose?????? get real donks!! listen this soldier had a choice to join or not!!! paid the ultimate price and no one can forget that and i salute him, but GB had no choice in his lost sight!! so before you open your mouth and type, engage your brain and think what you are writing.

- Steve, England

Someone said that we get he politicians we deserve but do we also get the press we deserve? I guess so since we continue to buy it. It's hard to spot the truth through the constant blizzard of media coverage. The irony is that it's the freedom to live in such confusion and at times near hysteria
that our young men and women are often 'over there' defending. So when we step back and look at what we think we deserve, hands up who wants to be a politician never mind prime minister?

- Ray, West Londom

For those of you who are calling for an election, I hope that you are not under the erroneous notion that your lives are going to be any better, if cameron comes into power.

- Kunle Sotunde, London

@ East, London

You missed part of my point somewhat and again I stress I will not be voting Labour next year. The fact that Brown writes a letter at all when he only has one eye and the other eye is in such a poor state is quite remarkable really considering the ridicule it could and has brought him.

He wanted to make it personal, not draft and redraft until it lost its character. From what I have been told of his eyesight it could have taken numerous attempts for him to be able to get is just so. The sentiments were genuine and that's what matters. He would of been criticised had he just got an aide to whack one out on the computer for him to sign.

What has been largely been overlooked is the implied argument that if you are visually impaired and unable to write clearly as a result, that it somehow makes you unfit for high office, that you are unintelligent, a buffoon. It's discrimination. Most of the anti brown posts here seem to be not based on the articles themselves and just on a general dislike for Brown which makes the post worthless commentary.

- Gareth Miller, Chinnor, Oxon

What a gigantic fuss this woman has made over what is just the PM's own dodgy handwriting.

- Keith Price, Luton, Emgland

Gordon Brown must resign and call a general election without delay,he should never have been given the job as Prime Minister,he is quite simply not up to the job,and if truth be known he probably believes this to be true as well.

- General Lee Wright, Bent Kent, Area 1648A EUSSR.

Thousands of parents have sons and daughters in the services. And thousands of them behave with a lot more dignity when they lose a child in war. They don't all go running off to a gutter tabloid and put the death of their child on a page that is but two pages away from Page Three. How undignified is that! The Sun is not really interested in this woman's story other than it serves to increase its circulation figures and promote its political vendettas.

- Janet, London, UK

Fine fair enough, anyone can make a mistake.
In this case I for once belief in Gordon Brown's intent.
That does not happen very often. Given that his eyesight is poor why was the letter not checked by the brown nose lickspittles that surround him? If a hand written note is liable to be misread check it or type it. If the morons at No 10 can't see this bring on May/June 2010 fast.

- Macdangler, Wimbledon SW19

No sympathy for Brown but Murdoch has scraped the bottom of the barrel!

- Gwaddilove, London..England

What a tragic figure Mr Brown has become (and looks). Surely the time has come for his party members to put him out of his misery, why wait for the electorate to do it?

- Amazed, Swindon, Wilts

Can't run the country.
Can't conduct himself in a decent manner.
Can't tell the truth.
Can't listen and learn.
Can't speak properly.
Can't write properly.
Can't spell.
Can't jog.

That's just a few of the things he can't do.

The man is a total waste of space.

- Dee Jay, Fleet Hampshire

Well summed up Dee Jay - You've hit the nail right on the head there!

- Anon Pc, London, UK

Brown is a dishonest, cowardly bully. He could'nt even bear to admit to his spelling mistakes. He insists that this poor, grieving woman "misinterperated" the letter. Get rid of the shabby, second rate fool.

- Gaz, london

Plonker Brown is a born loser on so many fronts - he should call an Election and end his personal agony - and give us all a break !!!.

- Alan, Essex

@ Lynn Whiting, when you yourself seem unable to use an apostrophe instead of a comma. I would not be mocking the writing of others.

Are you saying that because you are visually disabled that somehow makes you thicker, that visually disabled people shouldn't hold high office.

As I said previously, stories based on Brown's record have merit, discriminatory stories based on scoring cheap points off the back of a disability and the exploitation of a grieving Mother do not.

Brown further did the right thing by calling the Mother personally to apologise even though it was a complete no win situation for him, what can possibly be said to a grieving Mother that would adequately compensate for the loss of a much loved son. Nothing, from sad experience with a friend who committed suicide at a young age, I am aware of the need to lash out, appoint blame due to the futility of it all. The Sun are a disgrace for exploiting this grief.

The national news need to pose the question today, was this woman paid for this story? if so will the money be donated to the Poppy Appeal, this does not seem to have been made clear at all.

- Gareth Miller, Chinnor, Oxon

Mr Brown was incompetent , Mrs Janes unthinking , but what has not been addressed is her claim that the forces lack the equipment to help the men in Afghanistan and Iraq . This is a bigger diservice than a simple spelling mistake . Let all the media take that up as a cause

- Bill Gordon, Pattaya , Thailand

Shame on Jacqui! Jamie Janes's mother has sullied her son'e name by dragging him into a tabloid story. 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

@ Gareth Miller, Chinnor

Totally accept your point, but everything about the letter perfectly illustrates why he is the wrong man for the job. If he had shown one iota of understanding the British sense of fair play during his tenure I may be inclined to have sympathy. These letters are little more than cosmetics. If they were truly heartfelt he would have ripped up that travesty of an apology, picked up a fountain pen and written something befitting the office he holds. That looked like something out of a 12 year old's rough book. If this is the level of detail he applies to everything it's no wonder the country is on its knees.

I know if I were Mrs Janes, I would probably want to put together some kind of scrapbook commemorating my son's life, and the front page would be the letter from the Prime MInister acknowledging that his death was truly valued as a sacrifice for the country. What she got was a half-baked scribble. Perhaps if he hadn't wasted time commenting on X Factor and David Haye he could have spent a bit more time giving this young soldier the acknowledgment he deserved.

I'd be more than happy to give him the benefit of doubt if he hadn't shown himself to be duplicitous, incompetent, deceitful and downright devious throughout his time at Number 10. The quicker he's gone, the better for all of us.

- East, London

Anthony, Esher: it is illegal under international law to go to war without first making a formal Declaration of War on the country concerned - like when Tony Blair and his cabinet went to war in Iraq (without also consulting Parliament, the opposition and the country). Gordon Brown was part of the Cabinet that made that decision, and the man who held the purse-strings to advise whether there was enough money to finance it - which has perhaps contributed to the APPARENT insuffucient funds NOW to buy equipment for the genuine, internationally-sanctioned action in Afghanistan. Illegal war, illegal phone recording - which crime would say was worse, if you're looking for someone to punish? This Government has done so much that used to be illegal simply by changing the laws to suit it, mostly without anyone batting and eyelid except 'Liberty'.

To all those who say there isn't a bottomless pit of money to pay for the correct level of equipment for the soldiers in Afghanistan: why not? You have a bottomless pit of money for public sector pensions? You have a bottomless pit of money for obsessive Health and Safety inspectors to protect YOU when you're at work? You have a bottomless pit of money for anyone who gets off a P&O ferry and demands accommodation, food and education for their children. Why begrudge the cash for this particular thing you can't afford?

- Roz, France

The PM is stitched up by The Sun and a grieving mother is completely taken advantage off.. What a sorry state of affairs by the absolute gutter press.. They should be ashamed of themselves..

Incidentally I don't support Brown and won't be voting for him next year.

- Mark, crawley

"Downing Street refused to allow broadcasters to play the recording" - now we begin to see the REAL Labour party. If it had shown Gordon Brown in a positive light they'd have been first to play it in full. But because it shows him giving only a "qualified" apology (I'm sorry IF....) rather that the "unreserved" apology (I'm sorry) Mrs Janes deserves, and demonstrates again his total obfuscation of the facts, they seek to prevent it getting in to the public domain. Total hypocrisy which has been, and will be remembered as, the hallmark of both Tony Blair's and Gordon Brown's government. THAT is why Gordon Brown and his Nu-Liebor government HAS to go

- Malcolm, London

Brown has never been elected PM. He is not fit to be in that position as evidenced by his inability to spell and conjugate correctly.

He has sold us down the river to his masters at the EU, and in so doing he has finished the job Adolf couldn't. I visited my family's WWI war grave in France at the weekend. They fought and died to save us from unelected fascists. Much good it did us. You could almost hear the dead spinning in their graves.

Brown - for the love of GOD man GO NOW and take your repugnant gubberment of halfwits with you.

- Tony The Trader, Canary Wharf

It makes me sick with the thought that The Sun are abusing the grief of a bereaved mother for their own political stunts. The Sun should hang it's head in shame.

- Saleh Ahmed, Loughton

My goodness, it appears the man can do no right. Though i understand this woman is grieving - this public display is not correct and does no credit to her son at all or what he died for. He joined the armed forces and when he did there was a chance that we would see live combat. He did, and he died. Tragic because he is so young but no more tragic than any other armed forces personel dying.

the recording of the prime minister was wrong. At this stage in the ladys grief the man will not be able to do any right.

He tried the personal touch - it failed. But i for one doe not think any less of the man.

- Rachroo, london

Yes, the Sun will sink to any depth so it can sell extra copy, even in collusion with a grieving mother, so presumably David Cameron will be the first to disassociate himself from any supporter that indulges in this sort of behaviour

- John, Twickenham

Nat from New Malden - Totally, totally agree. Think you've hit the nail right on the head.

- Malcolm, London

A number of different issues here,

Unelected PM sending young men to die in an unpopular war.

NuLabour spin, has been cynical over the years and now (rightly) receives a cynical response before any other.

The "gutter" press making its point.

A grieving Mother, who feels betrayed, and who has another son at risk (I very much doubt this is done for personal gain).

The flow information so tightly controled by Number 10 that genuine debate is stiffled.

And so what is the truth? Who knows, but truth is ALWAYS the first casualty of war.

- Chris, London

"If he can,t even write a letter without several mistakes.And he himself always says he is doing his best it,s obvious his best is not good enough

- Lynn Whiting, london uk"

One of the most stupid things I have ever read. Bad spelling with one eye or bad spelling/typos full stop is irrelevant. MP's are elected for their judgement. Churchill used to get drunk regularly but that's OK I suppose? Why don't you stand Lynn, I'm sure you'll get lots of votes?

- Dan, London

Stop with the sympathy for Brown. He is the Prime Minster of this country and he should be able write a letter properly, hold a conversation without resorting to anger and be able to apologise and console a woman whose son has given his life in the name of the country he is supposed to lead. If he wasn't for the war he has had plenty of time to get out. What is more shameful - starting the war as Blair did or carrying on with something you don't believe in? Remember we are talking human lives here, both Afganhi and British.


Brown may have a disability but he is alive and this woman's son isn't. Who knows what we would all do in our grief at such a loss.

This is Rememberance and the fallen and their families should be remembered not slagged off.

- Mikki, London

Can't run the country.
Can't conduct himself in a decent manner.
Can't tell the truth.
Can't listen and learn.
Can't speak properly.
Can't write properly.
Can't spell.
Can't jog.

That's just a few of the things he can't do.

The man is a total waste of space.

- Dee Jay, Fleet Hampshire

Brown is all too aware of the problems associated with his poor eye sight. Therefore he should have insured that the letter was given the once over before it was sent. No10 obviously kept a copy as Brown refers to it in his telephone conversation, so why on earth did someone not have the gumption to make sure it was right before it was sent out. I am not at all suprised by all this fuss. The majority of people in this country are angry with the government over their handling of the Afghanistan conflict and will now seize on every opportunity to batter Brown whenever they can. He is on a hiding to nothing and it would be in everyones interest, including his own, if he went now.

- Brian G, Norfolk Gorleston

Unbelieveable. I am not a Labour supporter and of course I have sympathies with Mrs Janes but this is such a low blow. The man called up to make an honest apology and appears to have been ambushed for political gains. There are plenty of reasons to haul him over the coals, but this isn't one of them, and it's pretty disgusting to see the Sun manipulating a bereaved mother in this way.

- Mark, Vauxhall

Get a life Janet. I have a son serving in the army I know exactly how this woman feels. Labour, Blair and Brown have brokenly the military covenant, lied and cheated everytime they have opened thier mouths. They should be held for TREASON. Exposing Brown's incompetence yet again just shows the utter comtempt this man has for our troops.

- Steve, Bromley

Gareth Miller, Chinnor, Oxon

Totally agree Gareth!
The Sun is despicable for gunning for what is essentially a man with a disabillity. I hope the editor is proud of himself for exploiting a mother's grief and a man who we all know has a disabillity. WHAT A DISGRACE!
The Sun will literally do anything to sell a few more 20p copies.

- Steve, Medway,England

If he can,t even write a letter without several mistakes.And he himself always says he is doing his best it,s obvious his best is not good enough

- Lynn Whiting, london uk

What an ungrateful woman. I am sure she is angry and grieving but Gordon was trying his best. It seems it would be far better if he had not made any effort at a personal apology. He has learnt his lesson the hard way. I have sympathy for him, even though I dont support him.

- Stephen, London

Does this woman know the meaning of the word dignity? To milk what is obviously an honest mistake for all its worth and sell/give it to a grubby tabloid is truly repulsive. Brown had nothing to apologise for, it won't be the first time that Janes had been mistaken for James.

- Dan, London

Why do the BBC and ITV have to lie down in the gutter with the Sun by giving such prominence to this non-story. The war in Afghanistan is a story.Someone's handwriting and spelling mistakes aren't. After Hillsborough, I'm surprised anybody still buys the Sun, anyway.

- John Philip Hatfield, Ipswich

Did she tape the conversation without Browns permission?
If so, that's illegal and she should be punished.

- Anthony, Esher, Surrey

Her son was a hero whose memory is being sullied by his mother's actions. He joined up knowing what sacrifice he might have to make and I can only imagine he would be ashamed of his mother's behaviour now. I know she is mourning, but she must know what she is doing. And the Sun is back up to its usual, ethically dodgy standards of journalism. Reminds me of why the population of Liverpool turned on it when it failed to respect the dignity of the families and of the dead during a football crowd catastrophe a few years back.

- Peace Maker, Battersea

It makes me sick that Brown is spinning this into his 'sympathy' he is the reason why our people are dying!

Stop playing politics with this Brown and let it go!

- Jay, UK

Prime Minister the Rt Hon Mr Gordan Brown.
What you did in my opinion was what any educated and civilized person would do.
As far as the others involved,I prefer not to comment.

- David Nigel Braham, Milan Italy

Whilst I believe that Gordon Brown's intentions were honorable, I believe that - before picking up the pen - he should have ensured that every aspect of this letter was correct.

Names, details, spelling, punctuation. Everything. To do otherwise is an affront to the poor soldier who lost his life.

The mother is understandably upset and, with another son serving in the conflict, is keen to ensure that the issues of inadequate equipment are highlighted.

Whilst not the way I would go about it, personally, I cannot argue against a mother who is grief stricken and knows - probably - more than the people who sent him to war. A war that we should NOT be involved in.

- Cameron, London

Shame on this woman for dragging her son's death down into the gutter with The Sun newspaper. Shame on this woman for recording her conversation with the Prime Minister and using it for cheap political publicity. The quiet, private dignity of other mothers who have lost their sons speaks a thousand words: this woman says nothing with her self-seeking publicity and connivance with The Sun.

- Janet, London, UK

All those people attacking Mrs. Janes should consider: 1. How they would feel if their son had died and they received a scribble. 2. This lady has another son in the armed forces; we can only hope that her actions have shaken this spineless PM and this may lead to better equipment and protection for our troops. Brown did not need to write a personal note pretending he is 'close' to the family. It would have been far more dignified to sign a proper letter of condolence from the Prime Minister. As for saying how brave Jamie was... trite and phoney like everything else politicians do.

- Beatriz, London

I think this woman should be ashamed of herself for dragging her son's reputation through the pages of the sleazy Sun newspaper.

I very much hope that she has not benefitted financially from this wretched story.

- Charles, Kennington

I am no great supporter of Mr Brown or "NuLabour" but I do think this has gotten way out of hand...as said in a few post he has taken the time to handwrite rather than word process it!!! AS for recording the conversation how low has this women gone!!! The big question is how much is she getting from the Sun...if she is getting any money...she should consider donating it to the Royal British Legion!!!

- Mark, Walworth

I do not for a moment believe that Brown was less than sincere in his condolence. But, let us not make a virtue out of his hand-writing a condolence letter or his sincere grief at the loss of a life. The PM spending 5 minutes writing a condolence letter is no big deal compared to the ultimate sacrifice that the service person has made.

I also accept the Sun has an underlying, but not a secret but well stated, political agenda. It wants Brown out, just as it wanted John Major out and the then Labour big-wigs including Brown were very happy about it. What goes around....

To me there are only two significant things.

First, if not Brown, his office has been totally incompetent. If they can not handle a simple condolence letter sensitively and correctly, how can we entrust them with running the country?

Second, Brown can and never will say 'sorry'. He has to forever justify whatever he has done. A simple unqualified apology to Mrs Janes would have closed the chapter, but, as one sees from the interview, he makes it enormously complex. He tried to deal with her just as he does with Cameroon in Question Time in the House of Commons - never apologise for your mistakes, never give a straight or simple answer.

- Nat, New Malden

While I have every sympathy for this woman and the sad death of her son, I have MORE sympathy for Gordon Brown. I think that she and the media are well and truly out of order over this. Ok, so he make a spelling mistake in her son's name, but it was a GENUINE mistake. The mother should now keep quiet and have some respect for herself and her son's memory. Why would she tape it? Very strange. I totally support Gordon Brown over this issue.

- Janicebyrne, sussex

a serving prime minister takes the time to write a personal note to the mother of a fallen soldier, he then takes the time to call her directly..despite any spelling mistakes the gesture is admirable

to be fair this says a lot about his character..whatever anyone thinks of his policies - he has come across as a thoroughly decent human being. The spin the Sun is putting on this is pathetic and abusing the grief of a mother....

- Martin_Clerkenwell, london

As much as I feel great sympathy for this mother she has behaved in a very undignified way especially by recording what Brown probably thought was a private telephone conversation. What input I wonder has the Sun has here?I am no fan of Brown or his government but he has tried to rectify the situation. Brown's serious sight disability seems to have been forgotten by the mother and the Sun.Let's put an end to this circus! The only ones to benefit as far as I can see are the Sun with an increased circulation.

- Laura, Sutton

Hoist by his own petarde, springs to mind.

Whilst I find it incredible that a housewife would have the technology or presence of mind to record a phone call without some outside involvement, this is exactly the sort of thing that Labour have advocated in their relentless rush to remove freedoms from citizens.

The man deserves everything he gets and maybe one day soon he will wake and realise he is completely out of his depth.

- Nobby Clark, Perth, the Scottish one

All this, regardless of your opinion of it, highlights Gordon Brown's total lack of calibre. He should not be Prime Minister.

- Jethro Penzance, Bodmin

Education, education, education !. A sloppy letter from a sloppy Prime Minister. I would be appalled if a son of mine had sent such a letter.The British people deserve better.

- Noah Moore, London

I`m not a Labour voter, but I do think that this stitching up of Gordon Brown is really quite distasteful. The Sun seem to be manipulating a woman`s grief for their own agenda. It`s not pleasant to see.

- Glyn, Hackney

As much as Labour would like it, this is not about the public being unsympathetic towards Brown's eyesight and consequential bad handwriting....
This is about 12 years of Brown's incompetence, this is about his obfuscation, this is about his lies, this is about his deceit, this is about his unelected position, this is about his withdrawal of funds for adequate helicopter coverage, this is about his renegade attitude to Labour's manifesto commitment in respect of the EU "treaty", this is about his disdain for ordinary mortals and this is about his failure to recognize that his selfish conduct is dragging the country down with him.

- Bingham Macnamara, lymington, hampshire

@ East, London, to me one of the strongest elements of being British is our sense of fair play, if you are angry with Brown about the War, lack of equipment, the Lisbon Treaty then of course say so. But to mount an attack when the letter clearly had the best of intentions and to record a private phone call when there was no justifiable reason for doing so goes against the values this country prides itself on.

- Gareth Miller, Chinnor, Oxon

Has there ever been a Prime Minister so vilified as Gordon Brown? Even John Major didn't have to suffer such vitriol. As regards the Sun's stitch-up it is clear what is going on here. When they backed the Tories in October with the headline Labour's Lost It, they assumed they were on to a sure winner with Cameron. Since then they have begun to have doubts and realised there could be a hung parliament. So the Sun may end up looking like idiots, hence their desperate efforts to discredit Brown.
They don't care about Mrs Janes only their plunging sales.

- Harry, Surrey

We live in a victim culture, people vie for the top victim spot and media are more than happy to expout this. Death of loved ones is very painful, however soilders more than any other profession are likely to die or get injured,there is much injustice in the world but we can't always do the if and buts argument or else we'd never stop, there must be an if's and but for each life lost can we always blame or do we only get involved when it's close to home and sod the rest?

- Paula Connolly, london England

Mr Brown has made great efforts to take a personal interst in this mother's plight, and he is a thoroughly decent and principled human being. He is being treated very roughly in my view - and I am a committed anarchist who despises government in all its grotesque manifestations. I actually feel sorry for him.

- Neil, London, London UK

I am heartened by the fact that so many commentators here have the decency to acknowledge that this attack on Brown is below the belt (not to say, disgusting). I am looking forward to seeing the back of him as PM, but am pleased that the British sense of fair play is still alive. Our tabloids (Sun, Mail, Mirror, Star) are a national disgrace and lack basic values.

- Alan J, London

This woman has clearly suffered a great deal and spoke truth to power in the way that countless civil servants and colleagues have failed to do since 1997 - witness his wrecking the UK's private pension provision, dismantled the centuries-old banking supervision system (setting up the more compliant, inexperienced box-ticking FSA instead) and selling off the country's gold reserves at historic lows. All against written advice that he was able to dismiss because nobody would stand up to him.

Good for Mrs Janes.

- Gareth, London

Clearly this lady's actions leave a lot to be desired in recording and making public a private phonecall. Having said that Gordon brown does not come across well at all but people should look at the substance rather than the gloss. With Tony Blair you got a lot of gloss and little truth or substance, with Brown he is more human and more honest.

Sadly the conservative party have a very poor replica of Tony Blair in Cameron. English politics are in a decrepid state but given that much of the power of westminster is given over to the EU and the gutter media only the british people are to blame for allowing themselves to be reduced in this way

- Darrell Monteith, Omagh, Northern Ireland

Sorry, what this woman did was wrong and despicable. No matter what the circumstances, the man reached out twice only to be exploited by gutter journalism and a gullible woman. That's shameful.

- Jeremy Lawrence, London

Don't we deserve a PM who is smart enough to avoid being entrapped by a house-wife?

- St, London

I am not a Labour voter and not a fan of GB. But the man is being set up here. I don't know who looks worse, The Sun, the mother....or the honourable memory of this brave young man.

- Coys Switz, switzerland

It's so rarely said in these situations, but needs to be: this woman's child died, and that is tragic. But at the end of the day, no one forced him to join the army. This is what can happen when you sign up to fight in wars. People die.

Yes, it's terrible. Yes, this woman will want someone to blame... but if people make that choice, they must understand the possible consequences.

- Liam, London

This man has stitched up every single one of us since he's been in power. Have you all forgotten how he slipped in the back door to sign the Lisbon Treaty without asking what we wanted? Have you not read about how they have destroyed the fabric of the UK in order to fill the country with people who are more likely to vote Labour? Taliban soldiers are being granted asylum while our under-equipped soldiers die every day fighting them in Afghanistan. He has saddled every single family in this country with £4.5k of debt bailing out the banks but can't find a few million for some helicopters to keep our soldiers alive. And you have sympathy for him? Wake up people. Have some sympathy for the soldiers he and his predecessor have sent to their deaths, and their families, but don't waste one second's sympathy for this traitor.

- East, London

much as I think this poor woman's tactics are dubious - it shows how "eloquent" our "leader" is - he'd get an A* in Engligh under Liebours dumbed down exam system

- David, soton

Despite her very sad loss, this woman is to be detested. I may not be a Brown supporter, but what she did is very low. My sympathy (for once!) is with Brown, who I think has been shabbily treated.

As for this episode being indicative of a loss of leadership, well that's a load of tosh.

- Matt, London

Firstly I am not a Labour supporter in any way shape or form so please take that into account when reading my words.

This event has been totally disgusting journalism, the Sun have exploited a grieving Mother to score cheap points against Gordon Brown. It is well known within journalistic circles that his notes for PMQ's have to be done in large writing with a thick tipped pen so he can even make them out, despite this he still has trouble. He could have very easily got an aide to type this letter and just sign but quite rightly he chose to write the letter despite the difficulties he would face doing so. Rather than nit pick the letter should of been taken for its underlying meaning which is a personal note of sympathy. He really couldn't of won either way, send a typed letter and it would not seem personal, make a difficult but personal attempt at handwriting a letter and get attacked too.

His lack of head bow I'm told at the Cenotaph was due to a stumble and losing his bearings also due to his eyesight. Perhaps he would be better advised to talk candidly and openly to the public about his battle with it so as to gain understanding and stop stories from this from having any effect.

There are a million things to have a go at Gordon about but this letter is not one of them. The Sun have effectively pulled him apart for having a disability, is this kind of journalism acceptable in today's society?

- Gareth Miller, Chinnor, Oxon

Never been a big fan of Brown - he has made some mistakes. BUT... shame on the media... shame on this women... This is a nasty agenda. This is the man put in charge of our country! Where's the respect. All of you slating him - can you even remotely imagine what it might have been like to write a letter of that nature... I thought not.

With regards to the Sun newspaper... I still may find it useful from time to time... in the loo... not to read mind you

- Sanjay, Hounslow, UK

Very sad the lady lost her son. I think Brown was trying to do the right thing but he is dealing with a woman who has lost a child, and emotions are raw. The Army Generals should take more responsibility over soldiers lack of equipment. Give us the tools and we shall do the job.. better planning from the Army is required in any future deployment

- Charlie, London

I am no fan of Brown, and I look forward to his summary dismissal from office in May 2010. a lot.

however, he's clearly being stitched up here. The Sun is playing puppet master, and Mrs Janes is doing their bidding.

- Scotty, London

Whilst for many years I have detested Brown's politics and economics, I have to put my hand up and say that this treatment of him is personal and vindictive and in my opinion it is far beyond what is fair and proper behaviour by the press. This conversation was a private one and for it to have been recorded and published discredits the newspaper involved more than it does Brown.

This woman's grief and anger is being cynically exploited - has everyone forgotten the lengths The Sun will go to in order to sell newspapers?...Hillsborough disaster anyone?

- Paddy, London

Isn't it illegal to secretly record phone conversations?

- Andy Davids, London

I'm terribly sorry for the loss this woman has suffered but I feel her continued rush to take her story to the Sun (first the letter and then recording the conversation with GB no doubt purely for the purposes of selling it on) seems a tragic way to seek her 15 minutes and continues my despair of the culture that is developing in this country. Whilst I am not a fan of GB I do not believe for a second that he ever had any intention of upsetting this woman.

- Andy, london

Wake up and smell the coffee people!!!! This is an obvious trap sprung by that rag The Sun. Much as I dislike Brown, he had the guts to call and apologise. And while I'm sorry for the loss of her son, no-one is forced to join the armed forces and death is is real possibility if you do join. Millions of people lost their lives in the World Wars, there were "equipment shortages" then, and not even Churchill called people up to console them ...

- Nick, Battersea

Whether we like Gordon Brown or his policies is neither here or there. Yes.... the letter is of poor quality, Yes....his hand writting is bearly unreadable, Yes........maybe he did make some mistakes with re to spelling. At least he has taken time out to write to these families and sending his sympathy.

I'm not a fan of Gordon Brown or his Goverment but i really do believe trash papers like The Sun are just profiting from an individuals grief.......why else would such tasteless and vile papaers take such an invested interested in something that is blown out of proportion.

- Steve, Medway,England

What is there to say further about this man? With the Lisbon Treaty he sold out the U.K. as a country - without giving any say to the people, now he gets into a shouting match with the grieving mother of a soldier. My TV goes off whenever the man comes on.

- Phil Jones, London UK

She is said to have put the call on loudspeaker and recorded the conversation before passing the tape to The Sun…
Any sympathy & respect I had for this woman has totally disappeared…she is exploiting her own grief & I wouldn’t expect anything different from The Sun.

- Jacqui, London

Sounds like Gordon Brown has been proper stitched up!

- Goggs, London

Whilst no fan of Brown (and that is a severe understatement), I have always believed he is an honourable man who has genuine beliefs(unlike Blair). He has made an unfortunate mistake in spelling this poor soldiers name. He has then been forced to defend Blair's wars. Whilst Brown is obviously totally incompetent, don't critisise him for being uncaring.

- Richard, Adelaide, Australia

Reading the transcript of the conversation, one has to say that Brown, whatever I may think of him as a politician, actually comes across as genuinely empathethic and handles a traumatised and angry Mrs Janes in a calm, understanding and very human way.

One as to wonder, however, why Mrs Janes deems it necessary to release what was a personal and private conversation, and worse, to record it without the other person's knowledge. Sorry, but recently bereaved or not, that's just underhand.

- Richard, London UK

Bravo to Mrs Janes (not Miss, Gordon, if you're reading)

As time goes by it becomes increasingly apparent that we have entered into Afghanistan half heartedly and without the appropriate equipment for our troops (as well as sufficient helicopters)

Whats the betting this is down to penny pinching bureaucrats led by the chancellor until recent years, now our dear esteemed leader!

This conversation demonstrates that this man isn't fit to lead this country.

He can't even defend himself when debating with a member of public. How does he manage to get away with it in Parliament?

This also speaks volumes about our politicos from all sides of the House.

What a charlatan!

Give the troops what they need or pull out. We're trillions in debt and can't afford to be blase about this situation.

Do something today, not next year you ditherer!

- Neilhead, Cross of Clay

er, er, er, er, er, er - what an absolute disgrace that the English should be lumbered with such a hypocritical parasite as Gormless Brown.

Brown is a direct affront to democracy in the UK.

- Reuben Camara, Plot 1, Morecambe Compound, EUSSR

I'd like to raise some points that I think many people silently feel but are too afraid to raise:
- There is not a limitless pot of money for the war in Afghanistan. The armed forces will always want more equipment, name me a war where they didn't. But resources, especially in a recession, are limited.
- Is it now the done thing to phone every bereaved mother and set her up to attack the government and tape the phone call? Some people might call this exploitation of a very distressed person's condition. What mother wouldn't be in fury at the loss of her son?
- Policy on Afghanistan and Pakistan, as this is a war in both those countries, needs to be the subject of sober discussion not Jeremy Kyle style slanging matches where the bereaved are dragged in as pawns.
Frankly, the quality of media coverage of the wars in this country is dire. I get more information from Fox News and CNN than I do from the mawkish stories on the BBC and worse still, ITV. Please can we start talking about this war sensibly?

- Tony Mcmahon, London, UK

Good for Mrs. Janes, who has my sympathy on losing her son. She's obviously got far more guts than Brown. Get rid of the scumbag and his vile spawn, and start governing this country properly.

- Pee'D Off Pensioner, London / UK

Has there ever been a worse, more clueless Prime Minister? Clearly he should have asked his boss Mandelspin to sit in on the call as Broon cannot be trusted to do anything on his own.

Can Brown not see how badly he is damaging our country by clinging on to what little power Mandelspin still lets him think he has?

And well done to Mrs Janes for taking her chance to speak from her heart and mind. I suspect a great many people in this country would relish the chance to tell the Prime Minister what they think of him (but of course we know he is too cowardly to give us an opportunity to do that in a general election).

- St, London

I think it has to be acknowledged that Gordon Brown has severe difficulties with his sight - something which even he should acknowledge in public - and I think the lion's share of blame for this letter being incorrectly spelt or illegible should go to his office and support-staff for not getting him to write it again: to be fair, you have to question why they didn't - perhaps they work in an atmosphere where correcting him is not welcome. But beyond that an apology is 3 simple words, said with sincerity: "I am sorry" - it is not "I am sorry IF . . . ": 'if' is a qualifier and you cannot give a qualified apology, you have to apologise unreservedly or not at all. I have to say, I think the Sun has exploited Mrs. Janes' grief, but clearly she's aware of that and is using it to the best possible effect to get what the Army badly needs: it says a lot when a tabloid newspaper and a grieving mother have to take such action to try to get an army at war properly equiped, rather than a General in theatre simply asking for what he needs.

- Roz, France

The question has to be asked if Gordon Brown is competent to do his job. He clearly cannot spell very well and has displayed arrogance, lack of judgement and evasiveness. Nobody voted for him to be the British Prime Minister and it really is time to resign.

- Simon Ellis, London

How very convenient that this conversation was recorded and then passed to The Sun. Smacks of a total setup to me and makes me wonder who was behind it all.

- Mowdiwarp, Huddersfield, West Yorks

Well, well, the Sun newspaper, a Cynic might say this woman is becoming rich,because she lost her son.

- Michael Willit, South Kensington

The man truly is an idiot.

- Joanna, london

Add your comment