Government

Now is the time to make your voice heard

Two days before this magazine went to print, after a wait of more than one year, the Westminster government finally published its plans for the fire and rescue service in England. Because of the FBU’s campaigning work, the government has retreated on many of its most damaging proposals, but dangers...

Government plans for fire service "dangerous and ill-conceived", says union

12 Dec, 2023 By Ben Duncan-Duggal

The government has today set out its plans for the fire and rescue service. Its response to the consultation on its white paper ‘A profession we can all be proud of - Reforming our Fire & Rescue Service’ was published this afternoon. Matt Wrack, Fire Brigades Union general secretary, said: “The fire...

Fire union slams "chaotic, callous and negligent" pandemic response as Sunak takes the stand

11 Dec, 2023 By Alice Dann

Matt Wrack, the leader of the Fire Brigades Union, has slammed the government's pandemic response as "chaotic, callous and negligent". His comments come as Rishi Sunak appears in front of the Covid Inquiry. Matt Wrack, Fire Brigades Union general secretary, said: It is welcome that Boris Johnson and...

Northamptonshire firefighters gather at Parliament Square

Northamptonshire firefighters take fire service governance concerns to Westminster

29 Nov, 2023 By Alice Dann

Northamptonshire firefighters travelled to Westminster to raise serious concerns over fire service “chaos” caused by combining police force and fire service governance. Firefighters are raising the alarm following the conduct of Northamptonshire’s police fire and crime commissioner (PFCC), Stephen...

Firefighters rally outside Northampton County Hall

Firefighters urge fire minister to attend meeting over Northants PFCC fire service “chaos”

28 Nov, 2023 By Alice Dann

On Wednesday 29th November, firefighters will travel from Northamptonshire to Westminster to raise serious concerns over fire service “chaos” caused by combining police force and fire service governance. Firefighters have raised the alarm following the conduct of Northamptonshire’s police fire and...

Firefighters' union slams 'punishment budget' with 'obscene giveaways' for the rich

22 Nov, 2023 By Alice Dann

Fire Brigades Union general secretary Matt Wrack has blasted the Chancellor's 'Punishment 'Budget' for workers and 'obscene giveaways' for the super rich. Wrack said the autumn statement was a reheated Mini-Budget delivered by the short-lived government of Liz Truss that sparked an economic meltdown...

Firefighters: “failures at every level of government” led to Bristol tower block crisis

22 Nov, 2023 By Alice Dann

The Fire Brigades Union has today condemned “failures at every level of government” leading to the evacuation of hundreds of residents of Barton House tower block in Bristol last week. The council is now carrying out investigations due to last Monday’s report that “in the event of a fire, explosion...

Fire and Rescue Service Matters - oppose deregulation of furniture safety laws

21 Nov, 2023

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) is sounding the alarm over ministers’ proposals to deregulate the furniture regulations, revoking longstanding mandatory tests to be replaced by so far unseen voluntary guidance.

Fire and Rescue Service Matters

FBU Submission - Consultation on Domestic Upholstered Furniture

16 Nov, 2023

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2023HOC0530BS

Dear Brother / Sister FBU Submission - Consultation on Domestic Upholstered Furniture In August of this year, the Department for Business and Trade launched a consultation with the aim of revoking the...

Fire station with fire appliance outside at night

Cuts drive response times to record high

Response times for fire incidents have risen to a decade-long high in fire services across England. Home Office data for the year ending March 2023 shows a year-on-year rise in the time taken for the first fire vehicle to arrive at an incident. The average total response time to primary fires in...

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