Today, East Midlands’ firefighters lobbied MPs for urgent investment in their service, after the loss of more than 700 firefighters in the region since 2010, while the region experienced the fastest population growth in England.
Firefighters argued for more national and regional resources, asking MPs to take the case for more funding to government. Real-terms spending on UK fire and rescue services has been slashed by 38% since 2010.
Across the East Midlands, there are 750 fewer firefighters than in 2010, impacting every brigade in the region.[1]
- Derbyshire has lost 123 firefighters: falling from 824 in 2009 to 701 in 2019
- Leicestershire has lost 114 firefighters: falling from 691 in 2009 to 577 in 2019
- Lincolnshire has lost 165 firefighters: falling from 789 in 2009 to 624 in 2019
- Northamptonshire has lost 136 firefighters: falling from 595 in 2009 to 459 in 2019
- Nottinghamshire has lost 219 firefighters: falling from 960 in 2009 to 741 in 2019
Adam Taylor, FBU East Midlands regional secretary, said:
“The devastating cuts over the last decade have seriously impacted our ability to provide a safe service. We desperately need more funding in the East Midlands, and so do crews across the country.
“The new Tory government is claiming an end to austerity, but conditions for firefighters have continued to decline. We’ve come to Westminster to tell MPs to put their money where their mouth is and urgently invest in our service.”
MPs from the East Midlands attended the lobby, including Nadia Wittome, Lillian Greenwood, Lee Anderson, Tom Pursglove and Gareth Davies. Robert Jenrick, Housing, Communities and Local government secretary, did not attend but sent a representative from his office.
[1] Home Office fire statistics table 1101
