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Firefighters target MPs to halt 'dangerous' staff cuts

Firefighters lobby MPs to halt cuts that will endanger the lives of the public

Firefighters from across Britain lobbied MPs yesterday in a bid to halt cuts which are slashing front-line jobs and axing vital life-saving appliances.

Around 200 Fire Brigade Union (FBU) officials went to Westminster against a background of fire station closures and cuts which the union says are endangering the lives both of fire-fighters and the public.

In London station closures are already causing later arrival times which the union says helped cause the death of one pensioner in a flat fire - while police have been brought in to drive appliances through picket lines in Yorkshire.

The union is also seeking help in their pension fight, against government demands that they pay more and work for longer.

FBU general secretary Matt Wrack said it was "vital" to complement industrial action and vibrant local campaigning with decision-makers at Westminster.

"Over the last few years we've been pleased to find allies among MPs around Britain who realise the devastation that cuts to fire and rescue services are creating in their constituencies and the injustice of the unfair pension scheme that the government is imposing on firefighters in their communities.

"It's important that we all stand together in the name of public and firefighter safety, whether the families marching against fire station closures on their streets, or the politicians fighting for more effective responses to flooding within national politics."

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