A REPORT from the fire and rescue watchdog has been branded a politically motivated attack on firefighters and their union.

Angry Fire Brigades Union general secretary Matt Wrack rounded on the annual report by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire Rescue Services, called the State of Fire,  as “neither evidence-based nor independent” and “full of untruths and omissions.”

“While firefighters are out tackling fires, floods and the pandemic, the inspectorate didn’t even have the courtesy to speak to or provide us in advance with a copy of their report, which was passed to us by a journalist,” Mr Wrack said yesterday.