Green Party deputy leader MOTHIN ALI, who will speak at the International Anti-War Conference in London on June 20, says Britain needs to rethink its priorities – and its allies
LAST week the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) launched a consultation on the future of the fire and rescue service in Scotland.
This consultation follows the publication last year of the FBU’s groundbreaking Firestorm report which exposed the growing crisis in this vital emergency service.
Because, make no mistake about it, after over a decade of sustained underinvestment the SFRS is in crisis. Over 1,200 firefighter jobs have been cut since 2013 and a growing recruitment crisis within the retained service undermines the first line of emergency fire and rescue cover provided for over 80 per cent of Scotland’s landmass.
Since 2010, one in five firefighter jobs has disappeared alongside 30% funding cuts — all while climate breakdown brings record blazes and flooding. It’s time to fund our fire service properly, writes FBU general secretary STEVE WRIGHT


