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The Guardian newspaper has apologised for an editorial which said David Cameron had only felt “privileged pain” over the death of his disabled son.

In extracts of his autobiography, For The Record, the former prime minister praised the NHS care given to his son Ivan before he died in 2009 aged six.

But the newspaper faced a backlash after writing that he “might have understood the damage his policies have done” if he had sought care for a dying parent rather than a dying child.

Its editorial read: “Mr Cameron has known pain and failure in his life but it has always been limited failure and privileged pain.”

The Guardian removed the remarks and has now published an apology on its website. It said: “The original version of this editorial posted online fell far short of our standards. It has now been amended, and we apologise completely.”

A screenshot of the offending paragraph was shared on social media, including by Tory minister Zac Goldsmith.

He said: “These aren’t just the ugly thoughts of a maverick columnist. These are the words of the actual Guardian editorial. It is their corporate view.”

Mr Goldsmith’s criticism was retweeted by the prime minister’s girlfriend Carrie Symonds. Ivan had cerebral palsy and a severe form of epilepsy.