Minister's tribute to Browns' daughter

Gordon Brown and his wife, Sarah

The church minister who baptised Chancellor Gordon Brown's daughter the day before she died has described the infant as a "beautiful little girl".

The ceremony was conducted on Sunday by the Reverend Sheila Munro in the neo-natal unit of Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.

Messages of sympathy for Mr Brown and his wife Sarah have flooded in from across the political spectrum following the death of 10-day-old Jennifer Jane, who had suffered a brain haemorrhage on Friday.

Rev. Munro: "Glad to have held her"

Rev. Munro said: "Jennifer was a beautiful little girl and Gordon and Sarah clearly loved her very much. I am glad to have held her myself.

"It was a very moving service and it is always a privilege to be able to help, especially in circumstances like these.

"We are all very sorry for Gordon and Sarah. All our thoughts and prayers are with them.

"We don't always understand why these things happen but I know that during these times, God is with us and gives us strength and comfort."

PM's sorrow

Jennifer was born seven weeks prematurely in Forth Park Maternity Hospital in Kirkcaldy, Fife, near Mr Brown's Dunfermline East constituency home, on 28 December.

She was transferred to the specialist neo-natal unit at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary after tests gave doctors "cause for concern".

Prime Minister Tony Blair, speaking in Afghanistan, said he was "desperately sorry" for the couple who would have been "wonderful" parents.

Baby Jennifer may have only known her parents for only a short time but she will have changed their lives forever

Scottish Secretary Helen Liddell

A visibly moved Mr Blair said: "I know how much Gordon was looking forward to being a father.

"I know how proud they were of Jennifer Jane and what wonderful parents they would have been to her."

"I am afraid there is very little that anyone can say of comfort at such a time, but ... everyone in our country will be thinking of them at this time and keeping them in their prayers."

Nigel Griffiths, a minister at the Department of Trade and Industry, and a close friend of Mr Brown, said: "This is a terrible tragedy and all Gordon and Sarah's friends are deeply upset.

"They are in our thoughts and prayers."

'Devastating time'

Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy said: "Our hearts go out to Gordon and Sarah Brown at this very sad time for them."

He called for the couple to be left alone to come to terms with their grief in private.

Jennifer was cared for in an Edinburgh hospital

Conservative Party Leader, Iain Duncan Smith, said his thoughts and prayers were with the Browns at this "devastating" time.

"The loss of a child is the most devastating blow any family can suffer," he said.

"Our thoughts go out to Sarah and Gordon Brown in their grief for baby Jennifer."

Scottish Secretary Helen Liddell said: "Baby Jennifer may have only known her parents for only a short time but she will have changed their lives forever."

'Terribly sad news'

Scottish National Party leader John Swinney said: "This is terribly sad news for Gordon and Sarah Brown and the family.

"They will have had such a short time with their daughter and none of us will truly understand the depth of their loss."

They need time and space to be with themselves and on their own to deal with this

Murray Elder

Murray Elder, a close friend and political ally of Mr Brown's, said the chancellor had been "delighted beyond belief" after Jennifer was born.

"Therefore, the devastation in the last day is tremendous but he and Sarah are very strong for each other and I'm sure they will be able to cope," he said.

"They need time and space to be with themselves and on their own to deal with this. I very much hope people will respect that need."

"You can't understand what they've been through."

Staff at Mr Brown's constituency office in Cowdenbeath said they had received hundreds of messages of sympathy for the couple from people across the country.