FIREFIGHTERS have accused the Tories of sneaking through more severe cuts to fire and rescue services.

Central government funding for the services will fall by some £155 million in the coming financial year, according to analysis published today by the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) following scrutiny of this year’s local government finance settlement announced at the end of January by Housing and Communities Secretary James Brokenshire.

The funding cut would represent a 15 per cent reduction since 2016-17 in addition to funding having been cut by 30 per cent between 2010 and 2015.