Nancy Platts, Labourâs parliamentary candidate for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven has written to Simon Kirby MP asking him if he will vote to save firefightersâ pensions in the Parliamentary debate on Monday.
Nancy, who has campaigned for the firefighters throughout the present dispute, said:Â âNow is the time for action and our local Conservative MP needs to vote to save firefighters pensions on Monday or his latest statement will be just warm words. Anyone can have a meeting and issue a press release about it, but itâs the vote that makes the difference.â
Nancy issued her challenge after the Conservative MP for Brighton Kemptown & Peacehaven met with the Fire Minister, Penny Mordaunt MP earlier this week.Â
In her letter to Mr Kirby, Nancy said: “I note the story in today’s GScene regarding firefighter pensions in which you state, “I am happy to stand up for hard-working firefighters who are genuinely concerned about the future of their pensions.â Your statement to the press did not include any outcome from your meeting with Fire Minister, Penny Mordaunt MP. Despite her assurances of âthe best possible deal for firefightersâ, she has so far ignored the concerns and cooperation of firefighters and the FBU by saying that no further offer will be made.
“The Governmentâs Firefightersâ pension regulations are based on an assumption about a dangerously low fitness standard, which would put public safety and the lives of firefighters in danger. Firefighters risk their lives to save ours and they deserve better than this.
“You did not sign EDM 454 calling for the Firefighters’ Pension Scheme (England) Regulations 2014 (S.I., 2014, No. 2848), dated 23 October 2014 to be annulled, despite requests from local firefighters living and working in your constituency to do so. Thankfully a debate and vote on this issue have now been secured because 270 other MPs were prepared to sign the petition and stand up for firefighters when it mattered.
“The debate and vote on Monday represent a key turning point in the ongoing dispute over firefighter pensions that has resulted in strike action. Now is your chance to make a real difference and IÂ trust that your support for firefighters will translate into concrete action by voting to save their pensions on Monday.
“Please can you confirm how you will vote on Monday at the debate?”
Responding Simon said: âI will not apologise for being a strong voice for local firefighters and will continue to stand up for them, as I have done consistently. One of the most effective ways to positively influence policy as an MP is by meeting Ministers to have frank discussions about policies/proposed policies.
“It is sad that the Labour candidate doesnât understand this and that is just one of the reasons she is clearly not ready to be the MP for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven.
“I will leave the empty, gesture politics and hashtags to her and will continue to get on with the job of standing up for residents here in Brighton and Peacehaven and will be following the debate very closely on Monday.â
The dispute over pensions has resulted in ongoing industrial action because regulations put before parliament mean that firefighters will have to pay higher contributions and work longer only to get less in their retirement.
The Early Day Motion (EDM) tabled by the Labour Party called for the regulations to make changes to the firefighter pension scheme to be annulled. It was signed by 270 MPs, but not Mr Kirby.
The Firefighters debate and a vote will take place on Monday, December 15, 2014.
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