Gordon Brown to make first Commons speech in over a year on Remploy factories

Published on 10/01/2013 15:03

GORDON Brown is set to make his first speech in the House of Commons in more than a year next week.

The Former prime minister will raise the issue of two closure-threatened Remploy factories in a short debate on Tuesday.

He has been criticised for his sporadic participation in Commons debates since losing the May 2010 election.

He has spoken in Parliament only three times since leaving Downing Street, most recently in November 2011 when he raised the issue of radioactive contamination in Dalgety Bay in his constituency.

Mr Brown, MP for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath, will outline a plan to save two Fife Remploy factories.

The former prime minister will say that the textile factories, which have been part of the fabric of the local economy for 60 years, have full order books and a product with an acclaimed design and established market which could end up being produced in Asia if the plants close.

Mr Brown said: “If we cannot save these two factories which employ disabled men and women and which have a full order book, a renowned design, a successful product and an established market, it is unlikely that we will save many of the 50-plus Remploy factories around the United Kingdom.

“So this is a test case of the willingness to invest to ensure a future for disabled men and women who work hard today and want to work in the future.”