Lobby your MP – demand funding for the frontline

Dear Brother / Sister

Lobby your MP – Demand Funding for the Frontline

Further to Circular 2020HOC0599MW, I would like to update you on the #FundTheFrontline campaign, a UK-wide FBU campaign for urgent investment in the Fire and Rescue Service.

The purpose of the campaign was to encourage FBU members and supporters to engage in a concentrated, 10-day online lobby of constituent MP’s and demand that Chancellor Rishi Sunak use his upcoming spending review to urgently invest in our service, including the immediate recruitment of at least 5,000 additional frontline firefighters in the next year. Central government makes up broadly 50% of fire service funding, so decisions taken at Westminster are crucial for our jobs, pay and conditions.

The response has been outstanding, with over 5,100 FBU members taking part. I want to take this opportunity to thank every single member who did so. Through your efforts, 95% of all MP’s, across all political parties in the Westminster Parliament, have been lobbied for increased investment in our Service. 

We know from the contacts we have had, that all of this activity has had an impact on local MP’s across the political spectrum. In addition, our feedback shows that it has also greatly increased public awareness of the scale of cuts that the UK FRS has suffered and the need for increased investment. 

We will continue to keep the online petition live for a period whilst social media posts continue to circulate, if you wish to access it, visit https://www.fbu.org.uk/fund-the-frontline to find out more and send a message to your local MP.

I also want to encourage members who have contacted their MP’s to follow it up by requesting a meeting. This can be done via video conferencing or, subject to the facilities in your constituency, via a socially distanced meeting at your MP’s local surgery. To assist you in this, we have produced a short briefing document. You can find this on our #FundTheFrontline web page. If you do meet your MP, please let us know how you got on by contacting your local FBU Officials.

Of course, we are aware that we face very significant challenges in the coming months. The government has a significant majority in the House of Commons and there are very significant economic consequences arising from the pandemic. So making the case for our service will not be easy. Nevertheless, the FBU will continue with our political activity and planning at a national level, fighting for the investment our service desperately needs. We do not underestimate the scale of this task but that will not prevent us from making our case – a case we know to be powerful and based on the need to protect the long term safety of our communities.

Thank you all once again.

Best wishes.

Yours fraternally

Matt Wrack
General Secretary