When: 12 noon, Friday 26 September 2014
Where: Riverside Grass, South Bank, London SE1 9BB (behind ITV London Studios, between Blackfriars and Waterloo bridges)
Russell Brand will be speaking at the Fire Brigades Union’s “Ring of Fire” anti-cuts event when it comes to London on Friday 26 September.
Beginning at 12 noon, the event is part of the FBU’s nationwide tour to promote its recently published report Sounding the alarm: the future of our fire and rescue service, which has found since 2010 the service has suffered 20% budget cuts with 5000 frontline firefighters cut, 39 fire stations closed and 999 emergency response times increasing.
Russell Brand, said: “My mate from school Leigh grew up to be a firefighter.
“Our fire service, like all public servants they are being treated with contempt by our government and their incredibly difficult job is being made impossible.
“It’s time for us to come together and support them before the public services our grandparents built goes up in flames.”
Matt Wrack, FBU general secretary, said: “Firefighters want to warn the public about the threat to the UK fire and rescue service from central government cut backs.
“Firefighters want to continue doing a great job but their profession is being undermined by deep cuts to the service.
“I urge the public to come to the event in London and talk to firefighters about the threat to their profession.”
Firefighters in London will also be joined by comedians Shappi Khorsandi, Mark Thomas, Tiernan Douieb and Christian Reilly. There will also be music from country band Red Sky July, Aberdeen based singer Oliver Richards and folk artist Yvonne.
