MP defends Brown letter

AN OLDHAM MP has become the first to speak out in defence of the Prime Minister who is under fire for mis-spelling a soldiers’ name in a condolence letter to his mother.

Oldham East and Saddleworth MP Phil Woolas said the two-day coverage in a The Sun newspaper was politically motivated.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown found himself in the spotlight after he wrote to the mother of soldier Jamie Janes, killed in Afghanistan.

The letter is said to have spelt the soldier’s name wrong, along with other spelling mistakes. The PM later called Mrs Janes to apologise but had the apology thrown back in his face.

Mr Woolas said: “It was a personal letter. If someone had checked it he would have been accused of spin. Gordon Brown is an entirely honourable man who is deeply saddened by any death.

“This was a personal attack by the paper because of the change of support. No-one can doubt there is a political motive behind this, it is a highly personal attack on the Prime Minister.”

The PM told his monthly press conference that he has personally contacted the mother of soldier Jamie Janes to assure her that he did not intend any offence when he spelt his name wrong in a letter of condolence.

He said: “I apologised to Jacqui Janes yesterday for any mistakes that had been made. I also said anyone whom I have written to, if my writing is difficult to read, I apologise for that.”

Mr Brown sends a personal letter to the family of every serviceman or woman who has died. He is said to be devastated to have caused the upset.

Grenadier Guardsman Jamie (20) bled to death after stepping on an improvised bomb while leading a foot patrol in central Helmand province on October 5.