SENIOR firefighter Lucy Masoud hit out at politicians and pundits today over the backlash faced by London Fire Brigade (LFB) chief Dany Cotton when she suggested media outlets should say “firefighter” rather than “fireman.”

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) treasurer said change “really needs to come from the mainstream media and politicians” as when a word is used regularly “it becomes part of your language.”

Ms Masoud’s comments followed a speech at a Young Women’s Trust event by LFB chief Dany Cotton, who revealed the level of abuse she had received for suggesting Fireman Sam should be renamed Firefighter Sam “made me want to back off and hide in a cave.”