THE Fire Brigades Union passed an emergency resolution today affirming solidarity with Cuba.

Moving, Lee Hunter of Merseyside warned that [US President Donald] “Trump has openly talked of invading Cuba. We’ve seen his violation of international law in kidnapping the Venezuelan president and in starting another illegal war in Iran.

“This madman and his handlers will not stop there.”

The resolution commits the FBU to oppose threats of regime change, to raise the worsening illegal US blockade of the island with the British government and to work internationally to build solidarity with Cuba.

Conference was addressed by Cuban ambassador Ismara Vargas Walter, who described the appalling impact of Mr Trump’s oil embargo on Cuban firefighters: “The alarm goes off. You jump into the appliance but you look at the fuel gauge and your heart sinks.

“You have just enough diesel to get there but you do not know if you have enough to keep the pump running… You are right at the scene. The smoke is thick. You go to the hydrant and crack it open — and nothing happens because the electricity grid is down…”

Ms Vargas Walter received a standing ovation for her speech insisting the Cuban people would not surrender and thanking the FBU for its years of solidarity.

FBU general secretary Steve Wright said FBU members had been “visiting Cuba for almost 50 years to see first-hand the achievements of socialism.”

The FBU, he noted, had been the first union to put a motion to the TUC condemning the US blockade, and would continue to stand with Cuba in the future.