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Gordon Brown's condolence letter


Saintandy666

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Can't see anything on this, so sorry if it's a repeat. But the Sun, as always are being total ****stirrers. Gordon Brown obviously didn't mean any harm, and looking at the whole letter, it looks more just like his handwriting is the problem rather than any misspellings(just look at how he signs his name at the end if you have seen it). I mean after all he is blind in one eye, and nearly blind in the other(think it was 30% sight in the eye that actually works). You try and have good ledgible handwriting with that...

 

I think it's disgraceful the way the sun is using a mother who is obviously grieving as a tool in their crusade against Gordon Brown. They obviously don't actually give a flying **** about her. The sun is quite clearly a newspaper without a conscience.

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The sun is a paper written by morons FOR morons, its as simple as that. I dont have anything against the people that read it, I just with that they could see that they have all had there minds poisened by the **** they dish out day in, day out. Total ****ing farce of a paper.

 

What a way to use my 1000th post. Been here since day one :)

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I totally agree. I mean who actually cares? Is it really that much of an issue?

 

Exactly, the sun is just using it. The message was there, and I think it's nice he takes the time out to do this. I had an interesting discussion with my grandad today about this, because he is blind in one eye because of a detached retina also.

 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/nov/09/gordon-brown-spelling-soldier-sight

 

Interesting article there

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I hear the recording of the phone conversation on talksport today.

 

Although she is grieving, she was wrong in parts.

 

At the end of the day, this is a war. People will die. I know a couple of people that have died over there. She was saying that the lack of choppers cost her sons life when this simply was no the case.

 

I think the sun and other newspapers have disgracefully used this poor lady as a tool to have a bash at brown.

 

Brown obviously meant the deepest sympothy.... He could have got an aid to write/type the letter bit he did not.

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Exactly, the sun is just using it. The message was there, and I think it's nice he takes the time out to do this. I had an interesting discussion with my grandad today about this, because he is blind in one eye because of a detached retina also.

 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/nov/09/gordon-brown-spelling-soldier-sight

 

Interesting article there

 

I'm agreeing with you a lot recently. Now if you'll just admit that the Lisbon treaty is evil... :)

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Sh!t stirring is right but what do you expect from the Sun. Brown could quite easily got his secretary to type up a bulk standard letter of condolence, which had been put through the spell checker, had it proof read by several aides and it would have been perfect. He would then have been accused of being impersonal and uncaring. He wrote the letter in good faith and as everybody has said (including shadow cabinet members) because of his eyesight, he has notoriously bad handwriting.

 

The Sun is using this woman's grief to do their political digging for them but from most of the letters and emails the various news channels have received on the subject, it seems to have backfired on them, as the vast majority are sympathetic to Brown.

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It is an issue, and is unacceptable, but surely there must be editorial staff checking such things? However sad, Brown, or any other leader, must have to write a lot of these letters, so you have to detach yourself a little. In that case, mistakes may occur, so surely there must be others checking it?

 

If not, I'll happily apply to be the editor. The fool of a vicar got my Grandad's name wrong at his funeral, that was really annoying too. There are some circumstances where mistakes just shouldn't occur.

 

TBH I think it's pretty good that they get a handwritten letter from the PM. So ****ing what if there were a few spelling errors and mistakes. It's not like it was done intentionally and as people have pointed out, he didn't actually have to write anything himself. To bleat about it in the press afterwards as if he didn't care is very harsh IMO.

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Because it would make you feel worse. Yes, it is good to get letters, but come on, if you've lost a relative it's going to feel even worse seeing their name mispelt. It just then seems like people don't care, like they've given their life for nothing. It's obviously not intended that way, and anyone can make a mistake, but it's always going to be taken badly in that situation. I know I'd hate it. I don't see how moaning to the press helps though.

I suppose. The press is the main culprit in all this.

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God that women was on every channel last night!!

 

If someone wants to blow your son's brains out with a machine gun, no helicopters or a new pair of boots is gonna help him!

 

It just shows a lack of class from her I think.

 

To get a handwritten letter from the PM for me would be sufficent even if it has spelling mistakes.

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Brown obviously meant the deepest sympothy.... He could have got an aid to write/type the letter bit he did not.

 

Brown could quite easily got his secretary to type up a bulk standard letter of condolence, which had been put through the spell checker, had it proof read by several aides and it would have been perfect. He would then have been accused of being impersonal and uncaring.

 

Sums it up for me, damned if you do damned if you don't, just wish the leader of our country wasn't an easy target for such things.

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To get a handwritten letter from the PM for me would be sufficent even if it has spelling mistakes.

 

It was poorly written but I'm not so sure that the name was actually spelt incorrectly - the 'n' was poorly formed and looked like a bit like an 'm'. Not great but quite a common handwriting error.

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A non Story.

 

Normally I would love to bash Brown with any ****ty stick I can get my hands on, but not in this case.

Also, I think the woman has realised that she has been used by The Sun and is regretting it judging by the tone of her most recent comments.

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Can't see anything on this, so sorry if it's a repeat. But the Sun, as always are being total ****stirrers. Gordon Brown obviously didn't mean any harm, and looking at the whole letter, it looks more just like his handwriting is the problem rather than any misspellings(just look at how he signs his name at the end if you have seen it). I mean after all he is blind in one eye, and nearly blind in the other(think it was 30% sight in the eye that actually works). You try and have good ledgible handwriting with that...

 

I think it's disgraceful the way the sun is using a mother who is obviously grieving as a tool in their crusade against Gordon Brown. They obviously don't actually give a flying **** about her. The sun is quite clearly a newspaper without a conscience.

 

Is your last paragraph actually anything new from The Sun? They have a long and disgracful history of doing things like this: Hillsborough and the infamous "Gotcha" headline spring to my mind.

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Can't wait for Brown to be our ex-Prime Minister, but this woman has allowed herself to be exploited in favour of the Sun's new found political allegiance.

 

The Tories have been remarkably quiet about it.

 

Plus, without being too harsh/cyncial, IMHO, she is cheapening the rememberance of her own son, especially if she was paid!! Hopefully she gave it to charity.

Edited by Thorpe-le-Saint
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Can't wait for Brown to be our ex-Prime Minister, but this woman has allowed herself to be exploited in favour of the Sun's new found political allegiance.

 

The Tories have been remarkably quiet about it.

 

Not surprised, The Sun is basically doing their job for them.

 

In terms of political points, there isn't much point in entering into anything where you haven't got anything to gain but have potentially got something to lose.

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I have also read that he has to write in a fairly thick felt tip pen to be able to see roughly what he is writing, hardly conducive to good handwriting etc. As has been said, he was going to be criticised whether he wrote the letter himself or not. I think the woman's as much to blame as the Sun, she's obviously happily gone along with all this.

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wow, if the reaction on here is any sort of guide for the nation's mood, then the Sun/Tory alliance has just scored a massive own goal by going in to kill Brown off with this issue.

 

it is shameful politiking and a massive backlash against this kind of thing is pretty much the only hope that Labour have of not getting wiped off the map in the election.

 

I can't understand why anyone would read the sun. people says its just a bit of light relief, something to laugh at.

 

but when it moves away from its staple of vacous non-celebrity gossip and thinly vailed adverts for bland tv shows, into the political areana, it becomes a very dangerous thing indeed. but hey, its horses for courses. i read the guardian and say things like 'did anyone see the documentary on bbc 4 last night?'

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Can't see anything on this, so sorry if it's a repeat. But the Sun, as always are being total ****stirrers. Gordon Brown obviously didn't mean any harm, and looking at the whole letter, it looks more just like his handwriting is the problem rather than any misspellings(just look at how he signs his name at the end if you have seen it). I mean after all he is blind in one eye, and nearly blind in the other(think it was 30% sight in the eye that actually works). You try and have good ledgible handwriting with that...

 

I think it's disgraceful the way the sun is using a mother who is obviously grieving as a tool in their crusade against Gordon Brown. They obviously don't actually give a flying **** about her. The sun is quite clearly a newspaper without a conscience.

 

I totally agree. I mean who actually cares? Is it really that much of an issue?

 

The sun is a paper written by morons FOR morons, its as simple as that. I dont have anything against the people that read it, I just with that they could see that they have all had there minds poisened by the **** they dish out day in, day out. Total ****ing farce of a paper.

 

What a way to use my 1000th post. Been here since day one :)

 

I hear the recording of the phone conversation on talksport today.

 

Although she is grieving, she was wrong in parts.

 

At the end of the day, this is a war. People will die. I know a couple of people that have died over there. She was saying that the lack of choppers cost her sons life when this simply was no the case.

 

I think the sun and other newspapers have disgracefully used this poor lady as a tool to have a bash at brown.

 

Brown obviously meant the deepest sympothy.... He could have got an aid to write/type the letter bit he did not.

 

The first few posts of this thread have helped me calm down in the fact that this IMO is a simple case of an attention / payment seeking grieving mother being shamelessly manipulated by a 'paper' to play out their own political agenda. I saw her interview on the news channel yesterday afternoon and the fact she mentioned 'Its not about the money' suggests to me exactly the opposite and she can say she is going to make donations etc but no doubt some of it will be held back for charity No 1.

 

I am not a Brown supporter but only a complete idiot would not accept that Brown was anything other than genuine and to throw a few stones at some spelling mistakes, seriously who cares and show me the one person who has ever written a hand written personal note without the odd mistake. The fact someone has taken the time to write in such a personal matter is fantastic and if we have excuses for our mistakes this bloke is responsible for all of us FFS and is doing so with a disability that may get very much worse. I imagine his time for proof reading is somewhat limited and employinmg someone to do it for him depersonalises surely the very thing he is trying to achieve.

 

I hope this backfires on that odious newpaper and Mrs James (sic) who IMO have sullied the memory of every other brave servicemen and women who have paid the ultimate price and those who grieve their loss with a hell of a lot more class and dignity. Those brave men and women knew what they could be exposing themselves to when they joined up just like their loved ones so what makes Mrs Janes so special?

 

She is proud of her son and angry at the way he was treated. I'm not so sure if he was alive today he would be so proud of his Mum or agree with her actions and the negative attention she has bought upon him. Still no doubt the money she mentioned will buy her some nice dentures. Humiliating and degrading on so many levels it's difficult to write the words that can describe appropriately the Sun and Mrs Janes. How did the Sun get to know about this personal letter? Surprised she didn't hide her son in a divan bed upstairs - there are times when I really detest at times this country's attention seeking easy street residents. Truly odious, offensive and ungrateful and hugely disrepectful of all those who give their lives fighting on our behalf.

 

Hate is a powerful word and one I rarely use but I hate the Sun and Mrs Janes and everything they stand for whilst trying to shield themselves buy some code that they believe should generate public outrage. Well Its backfired big time IMO.

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The first few posts of this thread have helped me calm down in the fact that this IMO is a simple case of an attention / payment seeking grieving mother being shamelessly manipulated by a 'paper' to play out their own political agenda. I saw her interview on the news channel yesterday afternoon and the fact she mentioned 'Its not about the money' suggests to me exactly the opposite and she can say she is going to make donations etc but no doubt some of it will be held back for charity No 1.

 

I am not a Brown supporter but only a complete idiot would not accept that Brown was anything other than genuine and to throw a few stones at some spelling mistakes, seriously who cares and show me the one person who has ever written a hand written personal note without the odd mistake. The fact someone has taken the time to write in such a personal matter is fantastic and if we have excuses for our mistakes this bloke is responsible for all of us FFS and is doing so with a disability that may get very much worse. I imagine his time for proof reading is somewhat limited and employinmg someone to do it for him depersonalises surely the very thing he is trying to achieve.

 

I hope this backfires on that odious newpaper and Mrs James (sic) who IMO have sullied the memory of every other brave servicemen and women who have paid the ultimate price and those who grieve their loss with a hell of a lot more class and dignity. Those brave men and women knew what they could be exposing themselves to when they joined up just like their loved ones so what makes Mrs Janes so special?

 

She is proud of her son and angry at the way he was treated. I'm not so sure if he was alive today he would be so proud of his Mum or agree with her actions and the negative attention she has bought upon him. Still no doubt the money she mentioned will buy her some nice dentures. Humiliating and degrading on so many levels it's difficult to write the words that can describe appropriately the Sun and Mrs Janes. How did the Sun get to know about this personal letter? Surprised she didn't hide her son in a divan bed upstairs - there are times when I really detest at times this country's attention seeking easy street residents. Truly odious, offensive and ungrateful and hugely disrepectful of all those who give their lives fighting on our behalf.

 

Hate is a powerful word and one I rarely use but I hate the Sun and Mrs Janes and everything they stand for whilst trying to shield themselves buy some code that they believe should generate public outrage. Well Its backfired big time IMO.

 

I was about to write a similar reply but I think my feelings on this can be summed up by a simple +1...

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I don't think there is any excuse for spelling someones name wrong, it stinks of rushing and a doing it out of duty, as opposed to any real feeling of empathy, how can there be any real 'feeling' in what he wrote when he didn't even take the time to spell the persons name correctly.

 

General misspellings happen, I am not a good speller either but I don't think there is any excuse for something as simple as getting a persons name spelt correctly as laid out in front of you in black and white.

 

Even with his poor eyesight, he should have had it checked by someone to verify, he's the PM, if he can't be arsed then what example does that set for the rest of us.

 

He could pull all our troops out of course, instead of hiding behind the terrorist nonsense to justify why we are even there. That way, he won't have to write to any other grieving parents.

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Obviously feel desperately sorry for the lady, losing her son, but it seems to me like she's taking out her grief on the PM. And like some of you have said, he could quite easily have got his PA to type something up and he just sign it. If he'd done that, she probably would have complained about that too. Some people just like to complain, although I don't mean disrespect by saying that, as obviously what has happened is devastating for her.

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I hear the recording of the phone conversation on talksport today.

 

Although she is grieving, she was wrong in parts.

 

At the end of the day, this is a war. People will die. I know a couple of people that have died over there. She was saying that the lack of choppers cost her sons life when this simply was no the case.

 

I think the sun and other newspapers have disgracefully used this poor lady as a tool to have a bash at brown.

 

Brown obviously meant the deepest sympothy.... He could have got an aid to write/type the letter bit he did not.

 

This is one of the things that annoys me the most. I have the deepest sympathy for families of soldiers who have died in the line of duty, but (no disrespect here) I also have no doubt in my mind that the same families will have been telling everyone how proud they are of their son/daughter/whatever for risking their life for their country.

Everyone who goes to war knows the risks.

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The first few posts of this thread have helped me calm down in the fact that this IMO is a simple case of an attention / payment seeking grieving mother being shamelessly manipulated by a 'paper' to play out their own political agenda. I saw her interview on the news channel yesterday afternoon and the fact she mentioned 'Its not about the money' suggests to me exactly the opposite and she can say she is going to make donations etc but no doubt some of it will be held back for charity No 1.

 

I am not a Brown supporter but only a complete idiot would not accept that Brown was anything other than genuine and to throw a few stones at some spelling mistakes, seriously who cares and show me the one person who has ever written a hand written personal note without the odd mistake. The fact someone has taken the time to write in such a personal matter is fantastic and if we have excuses for our mistakes this bloke is responsible for all of us FFS and is doing so with a disability that may get very much worse. I imagine his time for proof reading is somewhat limited and employinmg someone to do it for him depersonalises surely the very thing he is trying to achieve.

 

I hope this backfires on that odious newpaper and Mrs James (sic) who IMO have sullied the memory of every other brave servicemen and women who have paid the ultimate price and those who grieve their loss with a hell of a lot more class and dignity. Those brave men and women knew what they could be exposing themselves to when they joined up just like their loved ones so what makes Mrs Janes so special?

 

She is proud of her son and angry at the way he was treated. I'm not so sure if he was alive today he would be so proud of his Mum or agree with her actions and the negative attention she has bought upon him. Still no doubt the money she mentioned will buy her some nice dentures. Humiliating and degrading on so many levels it's difficult to write the words that can describe appropriately the Sun and Mrs Janes. How did the Sun get to know about this personal letter? Surprised she didn't hide her son in a divan bed upstairs - there are times when I really detest at times this country's attention seeking easy street residents. Truly odious, offensive and ungrateful and hugely disrepectful of all those who give their lives fighting on our behalf.

 

Hate is a powerful word and one I rarely use but I hate the Sun and Mrs Janes and everything they stand for whilst trying to shield themselves buy some code that they believe should generate public outrage. Well Its backfired big time IMO.

 

Your best post ever Nineteen.

 

The Independent wrote a piece some time ago about the background behind the Sun's support for the Tories. Murdoch's son was heavily involved, along with a lot of old buddies from the 'Notting Hill' set.

 

I stopped buying the Sun after reading how this all came about. This only confirms to me what a rubbish rag it is. And don't get me started on Trevor Kavanagh, what an idiot.

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Your best post ever Nineteen.

 

The Independent wrote a piece some time ago about the background behind the Sun's support for the Tories. Murdoch's son was heavily involved, along with a lot of old buddies from the 'Notting Hill' set.

 

I stopped buying the Sun after reading how this all came about. This only confirms to me what a rubbish rag it is. And don't get me started on Trevor Kavanagh, what an idiot.

 

I haven't seen much news since yesterday afternoon but I sincerely hope Cameron does not seek political capital out of all this and that he supports Brown for his personal and private way of contacting the next of kin of those who have died whilst distancing himself completely and irrevocably from the Murdoch empire.

 

If the Tories do or have jumped on The Sun's bandwagon then I am fairly sure the opinion polls will swing back towards Labour. If so Cameron will only have himself to blame for choosing to suspend a campaign based on economic criticisms to join a despicable act of sewage slinging that not only sullys the memories of all those others who have paid the ultimate price but makes our country look seedy and capable of extracting money and self serving agendas from the most contemptible circumstances.

 

Has Cameron or a Tory spokesperson said anything do we know? Have they joined the ignorant, uneducated and beligerant who surely are all that remains of the Sun's readership?

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I cant stand Brown and what he has done to the countyr, but in this case he did no wrong in my eyes

 

Having a Prime Minister called 'Tony' didn't help, to be fair on Brown and whose fault is it anyway they got the extra terms in office? The electorate and the voting system are as much to blame as anyone else and don't start me on the FSA who clearly didn't fulfill their remit.

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To be fair, I think the least we should expect of our PM is the ability to write joined up. If his eyes are that bad he should have the common sense to have his scribbles proof read.

 

Brown is a baffoon, everything he touches turns to ****, I applaud the Sun and that woman for giving the warmongering idiot a kicking.

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To be fair, I think the least we should expect of our PM is the ability to write joined up. If his eyes are that bad he should have the common sense to have his scribbles proof read.

 

Brown is a baffoon, everything he touches turns to ****, I applaud the Sun and that woman for giving the warmongering idiot a kicking.

 

Frankly, I'd hate to think that my writing, being held up to the public gaze, resulted in a mother suffering from an intensified sense of grief, just because I may have accidentally written an m instead of an n or whichever way round it is supposed to have been written.

 

I think, that when the media are so out to get you, that a small misplaced letter can count for so much, then it's time to take another look at that media. The Sun newspaper has, since its tabloid inception, back in the late 1960's, certainly not let the facts get in the way of a [good] story. This is a story alright, but it isn't even a good one.

 

I suppose what I'm saying is... don't ever become famous in a responsible position, lest you make the slightest error.. or, is it good fun shouting abuse from the cheap seats..?

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Her son signed up to a job that could have ultimately lead to his death. That happened. She is now deflecting her anger at herself onto anger at the Government.

 

I have no sympathy for anybody who goes to the papers to slag off the Government after their offspring dies in a warzone.

 

Further, how anybody could be in the armed forces at the moment is beyond me. The conflicts that servicemen are forced to fight in are not just and not in the national interest.

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Frankly, I'd hate to think that my writing, being held up to the public gaze, resulted in a mother suffering from an intensified sense of grief, just because I may have accidentally written an m instead of an n or whichever way round it is supposed to have been written.

 

I think, that when the media are so out to get you, that a small misplaced letter can count for so much, then it's time to take another look at that media. The Sun newspaper has, since its tabloid inception, back in the late 1960's, certainly not let the facts get in the way of a [good] story. This is a story alright, but it isn't even a good one.

 

I suppose what I'm saying is... don't ever become famous in a responsible position, lest you make the slightest error.. or, is it good fun shouting abuse from the cheap seats..?

 

Brown was happy enough to kiss the Sun's ass while it was spewing out his own propaganda - particularly when he was sending our young people to their deaths in an illegal war.

 

I have no sympathy for the idiot. Hand writing condolence letters is a nice idea, but probably not the brightest idea if you have the illegible scrawl of a 12 year old and don't know how to spell.

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IMO you are wrong. Leave Afghanistan at our peril.

 

I disagree, we have more than done our bit, get out now and let someone else do it.

 

I fully support Nato's mission but how can this be fair...

 

 

United States - 34,800 United Kingdom - 9,000 Germany - 4,365

France - 3,095 Canada - 2,830 Italy - 2,795

Poland - 1,910 Netherlands - 2,160 Turkey - 720

Australia - 1,350 Romania - 990 Bulgaria - 460

Spain - 1,000 Denmark - 690 Belgium - 530

Norway - 480 Czech Republic - 480 Croatia - 290

Sweden - 430 Hungary - 360 Slovakia - 245

Lithuania - 250 Macedonia - 165 Azerbaijan - 90

New Zealand - 300 Albania - 250 Latvia - 175

Greece - 145 Finland - 165 Estonia - 289

Slovenia - 130 Portugal - 145 United Arab Emirates - 25

Singapore - 9 Ukraine - 10 Luxembourg - 8

Iceland - 2 Ireland - 7 Jordan - 7

Austria - 4 Bosnia and Herzegovina - 10 Georgia - 1

Edited by aintforever
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Can't see anything on this, so sorry if it's a repeat. But the Sun, as always are being total ****stirrers. Gordon Brown obviously didn't mean any harm, and looking at the whole letter, it looks more just like his handwriting is the problem rather than any misspellings(just look at how he signs his name at the end if you have seen it). I mean after all he is blind in one eye, and nearly blind in the other(think it was 30% sight in the eye that actually works). You try and have good ledgible handwriting with that...

 

I think it's disgraceful the way the sun is using a mother who is obviously grieving as a tool in their crusade against Gordon Brown. They obviously don't actually give a flying **** about her. The sun is quite clearly a newspaper without a conscience.

 

Totally agree with you

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The sun is a paper written by morons FOR morons, its as simple as that. I dont have anything against the people that read it, I just with that they could see that they have all had there minds poisened by the **** they dish out day in, day out. Total ****ing farce of a paper.

 

What a way to use my 1000th post. Been here since day one :)

 

Totally agree with this too

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