A fire engine in Blackpool outside a colourful arcade

Blackpool: on the frontline

Blackpool’s firefighters battle to keep people safe in a seaside town that has come to symbolise “left behind Britain”, hit hard by austerity. Helen Hague reports on life on the frontline – and hope for the future.   Blackpool – home to the union’s conference in May - boomed as a seaside town in the...
FBU conference 2025 delegates holding signs saying fund our fire service

Conference round up: 2025

Every year hundreds of delegates, elected from FBU brigades across the UK, travel to the union’s annual conference to democratically decide the union’s priorities, policies, and rules.  Firefighter reports on the main decisions and debates from the conference floor in Blackpool’s Imperial hotel this...
The Houses of Parliament

Starmer must reverse course on "shameful" welfare cuts, warns union leader

By Alice Dann
As more than 100 Labour MPs announce that they will oppose the welfare cuts, Fire Brigades Union leader Steve Wright has told Keir Starmer that he must reverse course. He said that the party leadership would "never be forgiven" if it went ahead, and warned that the measures could rely on Tory votes...
two firefighters smoke 2

Fire Brigades Union comments on HMICFRS report into Devon and Somerset

By Alice Dann
His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) has published its report into Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service (D&SFRS) The report finds raises concerns that senior management of the service are failing to promote positive values and culture, and fairness...
Steve Wright speaking at the podium of FBU conference

Reeves must tax the rich, says union leader

By Alice Dann
FBU general secretary Steve Wright has commented on a report that a memo from Angela Rayner to the Chancellor called for a series of alternatives to welfare cuts, such as increasing the rate of corporation tax on banks. It suggested extending the freeze on the threshold at which the 45% tax rate is...
Elon Musk thinking and looking forwards with his hands up to his mouth

Musk versus workers

As UK politicians start to echo Trump and Musk’s attacks on public sector workers, Eric Blanc writes on how workers are starting to fight back in the US – and what we can learn  “I’m a federal worker, and I feel like a canary in the coal mine right now—because what they’re doing to us is going to...
FBU member holds up a sign reading 'crew deficient equals safety deficient'

Crewing: countdown to disaster

When fire and rescue services send firefighters out in crews of just three on a fire engine, lives are on the line. Firefighter reports.  A hotel is burning. People are still inside and need help to get out. Many of them don’t speak English as their first language and are panicking.  Your crew is...
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