Former Prime Minister slams 'failure' in international co-operation amid coronavirus pandemic and war in Ukraine

The former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown is telling Kingdom FM that there is a "failure" in international co-operation amid ongoing challenges in the world caused by the coronavirus pandemic and the war in Ukraine.

Today, he visited the Purvis Group HQ in Lochgelly to talk about the next stage in the Amazon project that he's been working on since the start of this year.

Purvis Group has offered its 6,000 square feet warehouse in the town rent free to store goods after Amazon, which has a warehouse in Dunfermline, announced in January that it will distribute products to help thousands of families in need across Fife this year.

Mr Brown told us then that the project first came about after he had a chat with the Managing Director of the e-commerce business in the UK.

The Cottage Family Centre in Kirkcaldy, a charity of which he is a patron of, has launched an appeal for beds, blankets, carpeting, duvets and floor coverings to help people who are struggling to heat their homes.

It comes after the Scottish Government recently announced an increase in the Scottish Child Payment to £25 per week, while the UK Government has brought in measures such as cutting fuel duty, which Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced in his Spring Statement.

Meanwhile, Mr Brown, who used to be the MP for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath, says that more firms have joined its "Houses are Homes" project, with the project aiming to get 200,000 household goods and furnishings to families in need in Fife.

The Cottage is recording a major rise in requests from parents for blankets, bedding and warm clothes to protect their children against the still cold nights.

There are also plans by the Cottage to help families insulate their homes and to improve their quality of life, with local businesses being approached for carpeting and getting support to paint and wallpaper properties.

Bell Group Kirkcaldy will work with the Cottage to pilot a group project that will offer parents the chance to learn painting and decorating skills from their training centre.

Anas Hassan, our reporter, sat down with Mr Brown earlier today for an interview to find out how the project is progressing: