Labour firms up plans for fire and rescue service ahead of election

Speaking at a Fire Brigades Union rally today, Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper reinforced the Labour Party’s manifesto commitment to introduce national standards adding that there will be a national body to provide oversight and leadership from across the fire sector including the trade unions.

The gathering in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire saw Ms Cooper joined on stage by FBU General Secretary Matt Wrack and FBU President Ian Murray. She said that the Conservative government had “turned its back on the fire and rescue service,” adding that Labour would do things differently by introducing national standards and repealing legislation that sets out minimum service levels in the event of a strike.

“In the fire and rescue service there is a patchwork of different standards and practices which have created a post-code lottery on fire cover. In government, Labour will deliver new national standards, set by a new structure that will include the FBU and stakeholders.”

Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper MP.

While there was no more detail on how national standards of fire cover would work and the impact on current legal obligations on fire and rescue services to publish community risk management plans, Matt Wrack said that this approach would lead to the “creation of a new national body in consultation with all stakeholders, including the FBU.”

There is precedent for a national statutory organisation that brings together fire related organisations with government to discuss fire policy. The Central Fire Brigades Advisory Council brought together stakeholders including government and representative bodies but was abolished under the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004.

Ms Cooper spoke about the New Deal for Working People, confirming Labour’s commitment to overturning the Minimum Service Levels Act.

Read more about Labour’s plans for the emergency services in this summary from Emergency Services Times.