FBU urges Labour to deliver 5,000 more firefighters and reverse cuts to public services
Iain Hoey
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Labour conference supports wealth tax to rebuild public services
Delegates at the Labour Party conference have voted in favour of a motion calling for a wealth tax on the richest individuals to fund public services.
The motion was submitted by the Fire Brigades Union (FBU), the Communication Workers Union (CWU), the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association (TSSA) and Unite the Union.
It urges the government to reverse austerity measures, adopt progressive taxation and increase investment in public services.
The motion includes a proposal to rebuild the fire and rescue service with an immediate increase of 5,000 firefighters, alongside a review to consider further expansion and improved firefighter pay.
FBU calls for action on fire service cuts
The FBU said the fire and rescue service has lost one in five firefighters since 2010.
FBU General Secretary Steve Wright said: “Workers in Britain are paying the price for a broken economic model.
“The ultra-rich continue to reap the benefits of a rigged system that rewards wealth – not work.
“Meanwhile, public services are on the brink of collapse without the investment desperately needed after fifteen years of austerity.
“The fire and rescue service is in a state of emergency, with the loss of 1 in 5 firefighters to cuts since 2010.
“We need an immediate increase of 5,000 firefighters to begin addressing this crisis in public safety.
“The government must act decisively by introducing a progressive wealth tax to rebuild public services, create jobs, and support struggling households.”
Motion highlights links between economic policy and public safety
The motion aligns the rebuilding of the fire and rescue service with wider efforts to strengthen public services through wealth redistribution.
It positions investment in emergency services as central to reversing the effects of long-term austerity.
The proposal’s emphasis on recruitment and fair pay reflects ongoing concern about workforce shortages and pay stagnation in public sector roles.
Support from multiple trade unions
The motion received joint backing from four trade unions: the FBU, CWU, TSSA and Unite.
Their support underlines a shared demand for sustained public investment and systemic change to address service cuts and rising living costs.
The approval of the motion at the Labour Party conference signals continuing debate about the role of wealth taxation in funding essential services.
Relevance for fire and safety professionals
The motion’s call for an additional 5,000 firefighters directly affects local authority fire and rescue services across the UK.
If implemented, the expansion would increase operational capacity and could reduce response pressures currently faced by fire crews.
Senior fire officers and service managers would need to plan for recruitment, training and resource allocation to integrate new personnel effectively.
Procurement officers may also need to assess future equipment and uniform requirements to accommodate an expanded workforce.
Improved firefighter pay, if introduced, could influence sector-wide wage benchmarking and impact budget planning for service leadership teams.
The motion’s approval reflects a growing political focus on restoring public sector resilience, which may shape funding priorities for fire protection, emergency response and workforce wellbeing initiatives.
Labour conference backs FBU motion to expand public services with wealth tax funding: Summary
Delegates at the Labour Party conference have supported a motion calling for a wealth tax on the richest individuals to raise funds for public services.
The motion, proposed by the Fire Brigades Union, the Communication Workers Union, the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association and Unite the Union, calls for the reversal of austerity and increased public investment.
It includes a demand to rebuild the UK fire and rescue service by adding 5,000 firefighters, with a review to consider further expansion and improvements to pay.
FBU General Secretary Steve Wright said the fire and rescue service is in a “state of emergency” after the loss of one in five firefighters since 2010.
The motion’s approval reinforces the link between economic policy and the sustainability of emergency and public services across the UK.
This article contains information from the following source: The Fire Brigades Union (FBU)