Following the Fire Brigades Union's warnings over asylum seeker accommodation on the Bibby Stockholm, Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden suggested in a BBC interview that the union was only raising fire safety concerns because of its links to Labour.
Responding to Deputy Prime Minister's comments, Ben Selby, Fire Brigades Union Assistant General Secretary, said:
The Fire Brigades Union is the professional voice of firefighting. We represent the overwhelming majority of firefighters, control room staff and fire safety inspectors.
Fire safety is a serious matter, and this situation calls for a grown-up approach. We are sounding the alarm because it is our duty to do so.
Speaking out for the safety of the public and our members has nothing to do with our democratically decided political affiliation, and it is disgraceful for Oliver Dowden to suggest this.
As Mr Dowden knows, we have invited the Home Secretary to meet with us to discuss the significant concerns we have in relation to fire and operational safety on board the Bibby Stockholm and in other asylum seeker accommodation.
We have yet to receive a response to our request.
