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Firefighters cut ties with Labour

Kevin Maguire
Friday June 18, 2004
The Guardian

The split between Labour and the unions widened yesterday when firefighters cut their ties in a backlash over the nine-month pay dispute.

Representatives of the 58 UK brigades accused the government of betraying working people as Fire Brigades Union activists voted to sever the link that stretches back to end of the first world war.

Labour will lose at least £50,000 a year plus practical support in the shape of cars and offices during the general election. The FBU follows the RMT rail workers, expelled for backing rival organisations, out of the party.

Delegates at the FBU conference in Southport backed disaffiliation by five to one in a show of hands and 35,105-to-14,611 on a card vote.

Speakers complained they had been badly treated during the lengthy dispute which ended last year. During the standoff Tony Blair compared the union's leadership to Arthur Scargill, and Nick Raynsford accused strikers of being criminally irresponsible.

Sandy McNiven of the Strathclyde brigade said: "This Labour party is no longer the friend of the working class. They have new friends in big business yet trade unions continue to give money to them. It is perverse."

Chris McFadden of the Berkshire service, who resigned from the party during the dispute, said: "Our members are sick and tired of giving their hard-earned cash to the Labour party. I don't believe we have an ounce of influence when it comes to politics."

A compromise proposed by the FBU executive and presented by the assistant general secretary, Mike Fordham, to reduce funding by £30,000 to £20,000 was rejected.

Mr Fordham conceded that strikers were called "criminals, wreckers, fascists and even worse" but argued it was only a matter of time "before Tony Blair walks into the sunset".

He said: "Running away when things get tough is the easy way. Of course our members are angry with the government but the government is different from the party.

"If we turn our backs on the party it could be the beginning of the end of the trade union movement acting under one political umbrella."

Ian McCartney, Labour's chairman, said: "Having worked with the FBU for many years, I am personally sorry that the voice of Britain's firefighters will no longer be heard at Labour's annual conference and national policy forum, which will shape Labour's next manifesto."