The Fire Brigades Union has condemned the rise of far-right riots and racist violence in cities and towns across the UK this week.
Matt Wrack, Fire Brigades Union general secretary, said:
Firefighters were among the first to respond to the appalling stabbings in Southport last week. The FBU sends its thoughts and condolences to all those affected, especially the loved ones of the three young children who tragically lost their lives, and we applaud the bravery and professionalism of the firefighters who attended.
It is clear that the organised far right has used these tragic events to mount a deliberate campaign of racist violence and intimidation. The attacks on mosques, hotels housing migrants and other targets in recent days have been shocking.
This situation has been decades in the making. Mainstream politicians and media outlets have stoked anti-migrant hate and Islamophobia while driving down the living standards of most people.
Austerity, cutting pay and trashing public services were choices made by right wing politicians in the interests of big business – not by migrants. The new Labour government has a duty to offer an alternative, rather than pandering to anti-migrant rhetoric.
Firefighters are on the front line. We are still assessing the experience of FBU members on the ground, but there is evidence to suggest that firefighters have faced obstruction, and that fire appliances have been deliberately damaged. Resources being deployed to fires resulting from rioting could impact response times to other incidents.
The FBU stands in solidarity with those facing racism, violence and intimidation, and we stand for the unity of all workers against a cynical divide and rule agenda.
We have written to the FBU’s Brigade Secretaries to ask them to reach out to local mosques, migrant groups and civil society organisations to offer support and build links. The trade union movement has a proud history of mobilising against the far right, and it must continue to do so.”
