Gordon Brown: We need a fairer Britain

The former Prime Minister writes exclusively for us on the plight facing Britain’s poor.

All over the country mothers and fathers are dreading Christmas, fearful they cannot feed their children.

A few days ago I attended the opening of Britain’s newest food bank in Kirkcaldy and heard one charity leader predict “the worst year yet” for the poor families of Britain.

For years many concerned people have organised toys for needy families at Christmas. But now it is not just toys that are needed but food and clothes.

At least 500, 000 will go hungry throughout Britain this Christmas without donations from the local food bank.

The list issued this week by one mums’ charity in Kirkcaldy, the Cottage Family Centre, includes teabags, cereals, tinned food and toilet roll as well as clothing basics like underwear, pyjamas, socks, gloves, hats and scarves.

As Pauline Buchan, a charity worker explained, families with a weekly income who receive their money on a Monday or Tuesday, used to run out of cash on a Sunday. Now they are out of food by Friday. Their giro does not stretch half a week, far less a whole week.

A year or two ago people who asked for food would come to her embarrassed they needed such help. Now she says begging for food is normal.

Last year there was a plan for one food bank in Fife. Within six months it had dealt with 1,300 people in need, 400 of them children. Now there are plans to open six in my constituency alone.

It was bad enough that three years ago there were already 80 Trussell Trust food banks across the UK. Now that number has exploded to 300, with at least 100 more planned.

Many families are not only going without food to cook but do not even have cookers to prepare it. The last time I saw such poverty in Fife was during the miners’ strike in 1984 when, cut off from weekly benefits, the provision of welfare had been transferred from the social security office to soup kitchens.

Today families face not just a few months in dire need but shortages which could last for years.

But just as need has mushroomed so too has the public desire to help. When I visited my local Tesco on the day of their charity food collection I saw shopper after shopper donating tins and groceries they could ill afford.

I was touched by the generosity of people who had little but were prepared to give a lot.

I saw one pensioner, poor herself, donate three bags of food, worth at least £20, such was her desire to offer help quietly to the most vulnerable families in our community.

My father was a minister who used to say the spirit of Christmas could be best identified by the three letters of the word JOY. J for Jesus first, but then O for the Others whose needs should come before You.

Fortunately millions agree with that view and want a fairer Britain.

Their voice must become ever louder in 2014.