Tags
(not satire – it’s the UK today)
Time was – not that long ago – when firefighters were considered to be heroes.
Now – in miserable coalition Britain – they’re mostly just ignored (although not in Scotland).
That’s probably because firefighters have been loudly speaking out against the coalition government’s cuts to public services, and the UK press – not to mention the political establishment which kowtows to it – doesn’t like it.
That’s why you won’t have heard much in the press about firefighters striking today in England and Wales.
And why you won’t have heard much in the press about firefighters having their pensions stolen from them.
Or the government’s threats to sack long-serving firefighters if they get too old for front-line duty.
Or the ongoing massive redundancies of front-line firefighters.
Or the ongoing closures of fire stations.
Or London’s fire engines being sold off to an Old-Etonian for 2 quid.
.
Here’s an excellent video explaining why firefighters are on strike today:
.
Related articles by Tom Pride:
BBC and press ignore massive demonstration against austerity in London
So what’s the real reason Boris Johnson broke his promise not to cut London’s fire services?
Boris Johnson to close 3 fire stations that sent engines to the Apollo Theatre
Typical Tory logic: money for water to use against protesters but not to put out fires
London’s fire engines are now owned by one man – an old Etonian
Emergency services called to major pants fire in DWP
ATOS declare Richard III fit for work
Government ministers announce plan to deter immigrants to UK by making it shit
ATOS to reduce ‘fit for work’ test to one question: “Are you alive?”
.
Please feel free to comment. And please share. Thanks:
gingerblokeblog said:
Reblogged this on gingerblokeblog.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: BBC and press ignore massive demonstration against austerity in London | Pride's Purge
Pingback: I still remember when firefighters were heroes. Now we just ignore them. | Britain Isn't Eating
FinkFurst said:
Tom – This isn’t satire, but that’s a GOOD thing, and once again I agree with your principled journalism… even if you refuse to accept that it IS journalism.This could become a habit!
My only criticism is that you said “..in miserable coalition Britain..” It’s NOT a dispute across Britain. You should have pointed out that it’s only firefighters in England and Wales who are striking. You need to get to grips with what’s devolved and what isn’t. Most of the politicians and media can’t see outside south-east England, but you don’t have to follow suit!
LikeLike
Tom Pride said:
FinkFurst – good point. I’ve added a link.
LikeLike
FinkFurst said:
…and a well chosen link too! Having lived in both South-East England, and now in central Scotland, I see a big difference in the general respect accorded to the emergency services. The same feeling came from the reports about the helicopter crash in Glasgow, and many other incidents.
LikeLike
Mervyn Hyde (@mjh0421) said:
People do not understand that when the government tells them that the country is broke and we can’t afford our public services they are lying to us.
This little video explains exactly why. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bXpOUYrr1c&feature=kp
Although this is an American video as they explain we are in exactly the same position they are in, We are not Greece who are in the Euro, we have exactly the same economic conditions as the USA.
We have the money but the politicians are corrupt.
LikeLiked by 2 people
aunty1960 said:
Deaths by fires in london have gone up since closing and cutting down the fire stations.
LikeLike
aunty1960 said:
do not know why they go on about smoke and fire alarms and stupid lobbies being built when fire engines cannot respond, Fire stations being closed in Hastings. But then they do not care about police response and levels, or health, NHS A&E maternity unitsor lifeboat/coastguard units so do not know why I am surprised.
LikeLike
Mike Sivier said:
Reblogged this on Vox Political and commented:
Tom Pride is on fire today! And there’s no way to cool him down because firefighters have been on strike.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ulysses said:
Bdummmmm-tish!
He’s here all week, folks!
LikeLike
rainbowwarriorlizzie said:
Reblogged this on HUMAN RIGHTS & THE SIEGE OF BRITAIN POLITICAL JOURNAL.
LikeLike
rainbowwarriorlizzie said:
Reblogged this on HUMAN RIGHTS & THE SIEGE OF BRITAIN POLITICAL JOURNAL.
LikeLike
Pingback: I still remember when firefighters were heroes....
annak53 said:
Great article Tom. I cannot believe this petition has only 10,281 signatures. Please sign and share,share,share.
https://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/the-uk-scottish-and-welsh-governments-stop-attacks-on-firefighter-pensions
LikeLike
prayerwarriorpsychicnot said:
Reblogged this on Citizens, not serfs.
LikeLike
Paul Smyth said:
Reblogged this on The Greater Fool.
LikeLike
chess said:
The public still considers firefighters to be heroes. The majority of politicians, on the other hand, are surely considered to be self serving, greedy, duplicitous, lying, immoral scumbags, simply out for their personal and financial advancement
LikeLike
sidthemanager said:
Thanks Tom.
LikeLiked by 1 person