Shadow minister visits Hove Fire Station

The Shadow Fire Minister Lyn Brown visited Hove Fire Station yesterday (Thursday 27 November).

The Labour MP joined the party’s parliamentary candidate for Brighton Kemptown Nancy Platts to discuss the future of the fire service.

Ms Platts has been campaigning against the loss of a local fire engine and firefighters’ jobs as East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service tries to balance its budget.

Shadow Fire Minister Lyn Brown MP with Nancy Platts, East Sussex FBU chairman Simon Herbert, Borough Commander Mark Matthews and White Watch at Hove Fire Station

The shadow minister said: “It’s a very great pleasure to come down and visit Hove today.

“Nancy and I had a really useful conversation with White Watch at Hove, talking about the future of the service and the changing local and national risks.

“She really is doing a fantastic job in standing up for the fire and rescue service and for the people of Kemptown and Peacehaven.”

Nancy Platts said: “I’m delighted that Lyn came to meet local firefighters today to get feedback about Labour’s plans for the future.

“It’s essential for us to hear from those who risk their lives for public safety and I want to ensure their voices are heard at the highest level.”

Simon Herbert, who chairs the East Sussex branch of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU), said: “It’s great to see that the campaign we’re running against the fire cuts down in Brighton and Hove is having an impact in Westminster and it’s heartening to have Shadow Minister Lyn Brown come to the fire station personally to meet local firefighters.

“Local firefighters welcome Labour’s plans to look at creating a single fire service to protect frontline services and welcome the pledge to give fire services a statutory duty for flooding.”