Browns maintain bedside vigil

The concerns were reflected in newspaper headlines

Chancellor Gordon Brown and his wife Sarah are maintaining their vigil at the bedside of their baby daughter in an Edinburgh hospital.

Staff at the specialist neo-natal unit at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary said Jennifer Jane, who suffered a brain haemorrhage, was seriously ill.

The 10-day-old was baptised by a Church of Scotland minister during a short private service with the couple at the Simpson Memorial Maternity Pavilion on Sunday.

The couple have been at the bedside of their daughter since she was transferred from Forth Park Maternity Hospital on Friday.

Gordon and Sarah are with her and are grateful for the support and good wishes they are receiving at a difficult time

Brown family spokesman

A hospital spokeswoman said on Monday that there was no update to report on Jennifer's condition.

Jennifer was born seven weeks early by Caesarean section, weighing only 2lb 4oz, after ultrasound tests showed she was suffering problems that had led to irregular heartbeat in the womb.

She was transferred after tests picked up what doctors called "cause for concern" and a family spokesman said her condition got worse on Sunday.

He said: "Sadly, Jennifer's condition following her brain haemorrhage has deteriorated over the last 24 hours.

Blairs send wishes

"Gordon and Sarah are with her and are grateful for the support and good wishes they are receiving at a difficult time."

Prime Minister Tony Blair and his wife Cherie are following developments as they continue their diplomatic tour of South Asia.

A spokesman for Mr Blair in Delhi said: "The prime minister and Cherie have been keeping in close touch throughout the visit.

Sarah Brown left hospital last Thursday

"All their hopes and prayers are with Gordon, Sarah and baby Jennifer."

Scotland's First Minister, Jack McConnell, and Scottish Conservative leader, David McLetchie, also sent messages of support to the Brown family.

Mrs Brown's mother Pauline and stepfather Patrick Vaughan visited the hospital on Monday morning accompanied by other family members.

They spent about 40 minutes with the couple before leaving shortly before 0945GMT.

Jennifer was delivered at 1216GMT on Friday 28 December at the Forth Park Hospital in Kirkcaldy, Fife, near Mr Brown's Dunfermline East constituency home.

Routine scan

Sarah Brown was given the all-clear to return to the couple's constituency home in North Queensferry, Fife, last Thursday while the baby stayed in hospital.

Dr Tahir Mahmood, the consultant obstetrician who delivered the baby, said a routine scan revealed the baby was suffering from intra-uterine growth restriction, a condition which occurs in 10% of pregnancies and causes the child to have an irregular heart rate.

Mr Brown told reporters at the time that they would be visiting Jennifer every day until she was eventually allowed home by doctors.

Mr Brown, who is 50, and 37-year-old Sarah were married in a private ceremony in Fife, Scotland, in August 2000.

They began dating in 1996 when Mrs Brown's PR firm, Hobsbawm and Macaulay Communications, was involved in arranging Labour Party events.