An occasional writer's journal

The reaction of the mother of a British soldier killed in Afghanistan on receiving a scrawled letter of condolence from Gordon Brown is understandable and regrettable.

But isn’t it equally worrying that Downing Street staff allowed a handwritten letter by the Prime Minister, commenting on this most sensitive of subjects, to be sent out without the most basic of spelling corrections?

Grenadier Guardsman Jamie Janes

Grenadier Guardsman Jamie Janes, 20, was killed in an explosion on October 5, the 220th UK soldier killed in Afghanistan. At the time of writing this entry, the death toll has risen to 232, including 201 killed in action.

Jamie’s mother Jacqui Janes, 47, was furious on reading Brown’s letter, which began, “Dear Mrs James”.

“He couldn’t even be bothered to get our family name right. That made me so angry,” Mrs Janes told The Sun newspaper. Not only had Brown misspelled the family surname, but had apparently overwritten an error in the name Jamie. Further spelling mistakes were even more glaring.

Commentators have blamed the lapse on the PM’s eyesight which is constantly scrutinised by the media. However, his handwriting can best be described as elementary. There is no questioning Brown’s sincere intent to express his regret at the loss of life, but his critics will be calling on psychologists and handwriting analysts to test his nerve and commitment to an increasingly unpopular war.

Brown has since personally apologised to Mrs Janes. In his defence, a Downing Street spokesman said the PM “would never knowingly misspell anyone’s name”. Obviously not, but that’s hardly the point.

One thing is clear from this sorry episode. While brave young men and women are risking life and limb to defend the British way of life from the alleged threat of Islamist terrorism emanating from Afghanistan, pen pushers in government are failing in the details.

PM says sorry for soldier name blunder – Sky News