Brown's attitude problem (From Bournemouth Echo)

Brown's attitude problem

9:00am Wednesday 11th November 2009 in

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For all the spin and other defences against the 24-hour news cycle, there are times when a politician is caught like a rabbit in the headlights when they come face to face with public anger. Margaret Thatcher was ambushed on television in 1983 about the sinking of the Belgrano.

Then Tony Blair found himself kebabbed outside Birmingham Children’s Hospital.

Now it’s Gordon Brown’s turn, following his misspelt letter to Afghanistan mother Jacqui Janes and the publication of a transcript of their phone conversation.

This episode has never been just about Mr Brown’s handwriting. As Mrs Janes made perfectly clear, it’s all to do with Mr Brown’s attitude towards the Armed Services over many years. It was always going to come back to haunt him and has done so with a vengeance.

l At the Remembrance Day service in Christchurch, I was struck by the large number of families with young children who lined the High Street and came to the Priory. This trend is widely reflected.

Children in Wool held their own service before paying respects at the grave of fallen soldiers. Meanwhile, 44 members of Bournemouth Scouts travelled to Flanders at the weekend.

A few years ago, there were real fears that the Act of Remembrance would die out as the World Wars become a distant memory. On Armistice Day, it is heartening to realise we are not going to let this happen.