London firefighters this morning confronted Boris Johnson at a protest outside Mayor’s Questions Time against the closure of 10 fire stations, removal of 14 engines and slashing of 588 frontline firefighter jobs.
Members of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) joined the demo outside City Hall, before heading into the building to watch a session of Mayor’s Question Time.
FBU London secretary, Paul Embery, said: “We went to City Hall to tell Boris Johnson that his cuts are reckless and wrong.
“There is widespread hostility to these cuts which would lead to an increase in response times for four million Londoners.
“In a service where seconds really do count, this would inevitably cost lives. The mayor should abandon his plans and keep his pre-election promise not to cut fire cover in London.”
The June session of Mayor’s Question Time was temporarily suspended when protestors in the public gallery began chanting “No ifs, no buts, no fire service cuts”.
The London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority, The London Assembly and several local authorities — including Conservative-run councils — have voted against the cuts.
94% of respondents to the public consultation exercise stating that they did not want to see any frontline cuts.
The FBU’s campaign has won the support of actor Ross Kemp, who voiced a powerful short film in which he accused the mayor of lying to Londoners over the cuts. The film can be viewed here: http://ow.ly/oBEO5
