The Fire Brigades Union has now launched a legal challenge over the Bibby Stockholm.
In a Pre-Action Protocol letter sent by lawyers to the Home Secretary on Friday, the union outlined its concerns over safety aboard the barge. A response is required by 4pm on Thursday 31st August.
The union had previously written to the Home Secretary asking for a meeting to discuss its concerns, but the request for a meeting was turned down earlier this month.
Fire Brigades Union general secretary Matt Wrack said:
“The Fire Brigades Union is the professional voice of firefighters, and we have a duty to make our voices heard on matters of fire safety, especially when politicians let our members and the wider public down. We have been sounding the alarm about the Bibby Stockholm for weeks.
“It is disgraceful that the Home Secretary is not even willing to meet us to discuss these concerns. Throughout this episode, the government has displayed a lack of transparency and a callous disregard for the safety of both firefighters and those who are due to be housed on the barge.
“Fires do not discriminate based on immigration status, and neither can fire safety regulations. Everyone, no matter where they are from, has the right to live in safe and decent accommodation, and firefighters have the right to expect that they will not be recklessly endangered.
“This is an industrial issue for the Fire Brigades Union, as our members are the ones expected to respond to any fire aboard the Bibby Stockholm. We have therefore decided to move towards a legal challenge on this matter.”
ENDS
NOTES
1. For more information please email [email protected] or ring 07561896809 or 07964791663
2. Copies of correspondence available here: PAP letter - FBU - Bibby Stockholm Barge - 2023.08.25 (2) (1).pdf
3. An initial report of the legal challenge has appeared here: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/aug/27/braverman-plan-to-house-uk-asylum-seekers-on-bibby-stockholm-barge-faces-legal-hurdle
