Local government

Reacting to reports that Cumbria County Council’s budget consultation could see the closure of a retained fire station and the loss of 6 fire engines and 40 retained firefighters, FBU North West Secretary, Les Skarratts, said: “These cuts will slow emergency response times and lead to more deaths...

Derbyshire fire authority has approved for consultation a plan by its chief fire officer that will transform Derbyshire fire and rescue service. Proposals include: • loss of 16 fire engines • loss of 11 fire stations • loss of over 100 full-time firefighters For many these cuts will increase...

The London Fire Brigade has threatened legal action if firefighters wear their uniform to a demonstration next week. Firefighters will protest on Wednesday 16 over dangerous cuts to fire and rescue services across the country and proposals over pensions and retirement age that could see firefighters...

The Fire Brigades Union in West Yorkshire has responded to ‘unwelcome pressure’ on its members from the brigade’s Chief Fire Officer Simon Pilling. Last week, Pilling sent a letter to all employees outlining his views on a range of matters, focusing particularly on firefighters current campaign...

The Chair of the West Midlands Fire and Rescue Authority has appealed to the government to return to negotiations with the FBU over pensions. John Edwards, who has been a councillor since 2004, has written to Fire Minister Brandon Lewis asking for his department to heed it’s own evidence and put...

Firefighters in Wales will march on the Welsh Assembly on Wednesday in protests against attacks on their pensions. From noon until 4pm, firefighters across England and Wales will be on strike over ‘unsafe, unfair and unworkable’ pension proposals. Member of the Fire Brigades Union will assemble at...

London firefighters this morning confronted Boris Johnson at a protest outside Mayor’s Questions Time against the closure of 10 fire stations, removal of 14 engines and slashing of 588 frontline firefighter jobs. Members of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) joined the demo outside City Hall, before...

Documentary maker Ross Kemp has joined the fight to save 10 London fire stations from closure by accusing Mayor Boris Johnson of lying about the impact of his planned cuts. In a hard-hitting campaign film released today (Friday 6 September), Kemp calls the Mayor to account for misleading Londoners...

Chief Fire Officer Ian Hayton is planning to turn Cleveland Fire Brigade into a ‘mutual’. This is bad news for firefighters, bad news for our service and bad news for the public. Mutualisation would: Threaten the hard-won pay and conditions of Cleveland firefighters and firefighters across the UK...

Responding to news that the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has overruled the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority and ordered £35 million of cuts, Ian Leahair, Fire Brigades Union Executive Member for London, said: “The cuts are dangerous and wrong, and this is devastating news for...