The Fire Brigades Union is asking members and friends to lobby their MPs to support Essex firefighters. Our members in Essex are standing up to defend their jobs and the service they provide to the public. The FBU would like members and friends to persuade their MP to support EDM 395. This is easy to do by following this link. Solidarity with Essex firefighters is vital.
EDM 395: Essex Fire Service
That this House is concerned that 160 frontline firefighter posts have been cut in Essex since 2008 and current plans would bring those losses to one in five since 2008; recognises the impact this will have on response times to house fires; notes that despite an increase in the total budget by 7 million since 2008, the frontline budget has been underspent by 1.6 million; further notes that the fire authority has a financial reserve of 12 million; and calls on the Department for Communities and Local Government to urge fire authorities to use their reserves, where available, to limit frontline cuts affecting 999 emergency response services.
