Union leader warns Reform’s cuts and anti-net zero agenda poses risk to fire service
Firefighters’ union leader Steve Wright has warned that Reform’s electoral advances pose a risk to public safety, especially in areas where wildfires are an increasingly common occurrence.
The total area burnt by wildfires this year is already bigger than any year in over a decade. Wright said that the FBU would resist cuts from figures like Andrea Jenkyns, who this morning became Reform’s first metro mayor in Greater Lincolnshire.
Jenkyns has promised to launch a ‘Lincolnshire DOGE’, echoing Trump’s cuts agenda. She is also a member of the board of ‘Net Zero Watch’, which lobbies against action on climate change.
As mayor of Greater Lincolnshire, Jenkyns is now the most powerful Reform politician, in charge of an annual budget worth tens of millions.
Devastating
The FBU general secretary warned that cuts planned by Reform in county councils and mayoral authorities could have devastating consequences.
Steve Wright, Fire Brigades Union general secretary, said:
“Reform’s agenda of cuts and climate denialism poses a grave risk to public safety.
“Just look at Andrea Jenkyns, the new mayor of Greater Lincolnshire. She has championed a Trump-style approach to public spending and is an open opponent of action on climate change.
“Firefighters know that climate change is real because they deal with its consequences. Our members are on the frontline of protecting communities against the surge in wildfires.
“Since 2010, the fire service has lost 12,000 firefighter jobs. As a Tory MP, Jenkins backed those cuts.
“She and other Reform politicians are part of the establishment. They want to blame migrants for the consequences of their own policies, and to divide workers against each other.
“The FBU stands for public safety – and that means fighting for investment, anti-racism and climate action. We stand ready to oppose the politics of the far right.”
Support our Nation today
For the price of a cup of coffee a month you can help us create an independent, not-for-profit, national news service for the people of Wales, by the people of Wales.
Jenkyns hit every branch on the way down when she fell out the stupid tree. Right off the bat Reform are in stupid country.
And using musks doge idea. Absolute bonkers. musk has gutted departments that look after safety, he has fire thousands of people and put millions of lives at risk, the UK press need to pay more attention.
I hope the courts and unions hand this lot their backsides on a plate. Unforti=unatly it may well be people lives first.
Vote fascists, get fascists. Don’t know what people thought they would get.
https://www.desmog.com/2025/04/29/reform-candidate-andrea-jenkyns-vows-climate-cuts-in-flood-risk-lincolnshire/
So the stupid policies of Reform are beginning to be feared. What is it that makes people vote for things that could hurt them directly? Imagine if Farage becomes First Minister or Prime Minister, how many would be deported, when they have a legal right to stay, as is what is happening in the US, for instance? Many hate Trump but are still, blindly, voting in a party that follows his stupid policies. For goodness sake – wake up!
In Farage world, we would be run to a Trumpist American agenda which involves the deportation of legal, documented Americans. Now, I am Welsh (that won’t suit Nige because I’m not his kind of English), I was born of a Welsh mother in Wales and have a 100% residence record in Wales, I’m white and English speaking first language but also, I am half Irish via my father. Before I even mentioned my father, I could be on a sticky wicket but now maybe I’d better prepare for sailing to Ireland never to return.