The Fire Brigades Union has reacted angrily to the news that fire and rescue services are to face deep cuts, just over a year after Labour came to power.
Cuts imposed by central government could equate to the loss of around 2,300 firefighter posts. The news follows yet another below inflation funding settlement for 2025-26.
The union said that the cuts could result in deaths of members of the public and firefighters, and warned the government that time was running out to prove it could provide a meaningful alternative to the Conservatives.
Modelling by the National Fire Chiefs Council shows a funding shortfall of £102m (equivalent to 1,500 firefighters), not including London and primarily rural fire services (which make up about a third of all services). When London and county brigades are taken into account, the figure rises to the equivalent of 2,300 firefighter cuts.
The fire and rescue service has already lost 12,000 firefighters since 2010 – one in five posts. Response times have slowed significantly, and in some areas of the country fire engines now arrive without the five firefighters needed to safely tackle many incidents.
The UK is facing increasing threats from wildfires, floods and extreme weather events as climate change takes hold. This year has already seen around 900 wildfire incidents, many more than in the record-breaking heat of 2022.
Steve Wright, Fire Brigades Union general secretary, said:
“It is simply disgraceful that the government is imposing cuts on this scale, having come to power promising change. The fire service is already on its knees after 15 years of austerity.
“Cuts to the emergency services will cost lives. It is a matter of time until someone dies - either because we don’t have the resources to reach them in time, or because cuts mean firefighters are being put in harm’s way.
“The UK has a record number of billionaires. The average FTSE 100 CEO takes three days to earn a firefighter’s whole annual salary. There is a clear alternative – introduce a wealth tax, rebuild our public services, and create an economy for workers.
“Time is running out for Labour to demonstrate that it can provide a meaningful alternative to Tory austerity. The government must think again about these cuts.”
ENDS
NOTES
- For more information please contact [email protected] or ring 07825635224 or 07561896809
- The modelling can be seen here: https://nfcc.org.uk/incomprehensible-cuts-would-threaten-public-safety-warn-fire-chiefs/
- For more information on the effects of austerity prior to 2024, see: https://www.fbu.org.uk/news/2024/08/26/new-data-reveals-scale-job-cuts-fire-and-rescue-services-across-uk
