Merseyside firefighters have warned that the government is playing Russian roulette with people’s lives by imposing huge budget cuts to the fire and rescue service. The warning comes ahead of a parliamentary debate, due to take place Tuesday 26 January 2016 in Westminster Hall between 4:30pm – 5:30pm, on fire service cuts in the region.
Les Skarratts, regional secretary of the FBU in the North West, accused the government of vandalising the service. “Fire deaths in Merseyside have doubled in the past five years. It is a serious and growing problem that firefighters are determined to tackle but the government need to invest in the service,” he said. “We need a serious, grown up debate from politicians of all parties to see what kind of service they want for Merseyside. A professional, effective service ready for today’s challenges or a run down, unsafe and threadbare service.”
"We need a serious, grown up debate from politicians of all parties to see what kind of service they want for Merseyside"
By 2020 budgets cuts to Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service are likely to result in:
- The number of firefighters cut from 962 to 564 = -398, equivalent to 41 per cent
- The number of emergency control staff cut from 42 to 32
- The number of fire engines cut from 42 to 28
- The number of fire stations reduced from 26 to 22
The debate in Westminster Hall was arranged by Margaret Greenwood, Member of Parliament for Wirral West.
