Jacqui Janes gave an emotional interview tonight explaining that she accepted the Prime Minister’s apology over the misspelt letter of condolence sent to mark her son’s death.

The grieving mother, whose son was killed in Afghanistan, denied that she had been manipulated by the media but she admitted that she “felt sorry” for Gordon Brown as the controversy had spiralled out of control. She said she would take up the offer of a private meeting.

“I just feel like I’m being made to look like I’m trying to make Mr Brown look insensitive but I’m not,” she said. “I feel sorry for him - he has got a difficult job."

The Prime Minister made an emotional statement himself this morning saying that he understood the grief and pain that Mrs Janes and other bereaved families were going through. Without referring directly to the loss of his own daughter, Jennifer, Mr Brown said that he understood the sadness.

Mrs Janes said she had watched the Prime Minister’s press conference earlier today and welcomed his obvious contrition.

“He didn’t sound apologetic in the phone call,” she said. “Today he looked sincere, he looked humbled. . . I accept his apology.”

She said she was pleased that Mr Brown had asked to see the same medical report that she had seen. “I hope that he has the sleepless nights that I’ve had for the past five weeks.”

“Anybody that knows me knows that there’s no way that I can be manipulated by anyone,” she said. “I chose The Sun purely because it’s pro-Army, it’s not political. I have never voted. I’ve got no disrespect for Gordon Brown.”

The issue of Afghanistan dominated Mr Brown's monthly press conference today, which came as the remains of six fallen soldiers - including five shot dead by a rogue policeman - were repatriated to the UK.

Mr Brown said it was “a time to reflect on the courage and sacrifice of our Armed Forces who in Afghanistan have laid down their lives to ensure our safety and security in Britain”.

A recording of Mr Brown's 13-minute conversation with Mrs Janes was released today and showed the grieving mother accusing him of failing British troops in Afghanistan.

He was said to have been “mortified” when told of Mrs Janes’s distress over spelling errors in a hand-written letter of condolence, including her surname and the first name of her son, Jamie. He immediately arranged the call to apologise.

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