Received from: FBU
Congress condemns 14 years of damage to the fire and rescue service under Conservative-led governments. This included politically driven austerity, cutting 20 per cent of the workforce, along with pay freezes, pay caps and pension attacks.
Congress rejects the deregulatory agenda of successive governments over many decades, which the public inquiry found was central to the causes of the Grenfell Tower fire.
Congress opposes efforts to privatise the fire and rescue service and opposes handing over fire authorities to police and crime commissioners.
Congress welcomes the pledges made by the Labour government to establish national standards for the fire and rescue service, providing a better service for the public and to further professionalise the workforce.
Congress welcomes the Ministerial Advisory Group on Fire and Rescue, with the key role for the FBU. Congress supports its development into a statutory advisory body.
Congress is disappointed that central funding for fire and rescue services in 2025–26 increased by only 1.4 per cent, lower than the current rate of inflation.
Congress notes that the June 2025 Spending Review did not set out the sustained level of investment necessary to renew the fire and rescue service.
Congress resolves to support the FBU’s campaign to:
i. lobby the Westminster government and devolved governments for sustained investment
ii. lobby fire employers, boards and mayors on fire budgets
iii. organise a programme of meetings and lobbies both nationally and locally
iv. make the case for sustained investment in the fire and rescue service to all politicians.
Fire Brigades Union