Seldom in recent political history has a party shown such naivety as Labour with its decision to remove the winter fuel allowance. I fully understand why they did it, and I understand that they attempted to mitigate the effects of this decision on the very poorest within our society. And what they stood to gain from this paled into insignificance, in comparison to the political damage it has done to this Labour government. Cutting budgets, removing benefits, or trying to make people pay more tax is never popular. Labour constrained themselves to budgetary disciplines during the election, and it’s these disciplines which are leading to many of their woes. I reckon Rachael Reeves has to look at relaxing these disciplines which will allow her to find the money she needs to help initiate the plans Labour have for the country. It’s now rumoured that they are looking at the winter fuel allowance, but any softening or reimplementation of the allowance will be viewed by many as political weakness, and the Tories and the snake oil salesman Farage will not miss any opportunity to point this out.

After fourteen years of disastrous Tory government, we now have a party in power who are trying to sort out the mess left by the Tories, but political reality surely must come to the fore. Sadly many of those those who voted Tory are now taking us to an even darker place voting for Farage. Farage is not the answer, he is nothing more than a political opportunist, a snake oil salesman with nothing more to offer than sound bites which attract many who have previously voted for the likes of Johnson who led this country into the abyss which was finally finished of by Truss.

We have to give Labour a chance, give them the benefit of the doubt, because the alternatives don’t bare thinking about. Yes they have errred on the winter fuel allowance, but I believe they have also done their best to sort out the mess left by the Tories. The country is in one hell of a mess, and the last thing we need is Nigel Farage.

What’s the news across Scotland from the SSRP project? I’ve heard decisions will be made at the end of April with what goes to public consultation.

Is it just me or are we all living in a world none of us could have predicted just a few years ago.
And it’s not just the antics of Donald Trump across the pond I am referring to, it’s the whole gambit of changes which have resulted in a world I feel less and less able to understand or concur with.

We have never lived in a period of our lives when our democratic way of life is being threatened all around us, where our legal institutions are being sidelined at the convenience of those in power, and where truth is as rare as hens teeth. The new truth seems to be whatever comes out of someone’s mouth, not the truth itself. As a currency truth has been devalued to such an extent that many are now incapable of knowing what the truth is, and institutions like the BBC now have to verify what they put out.

What happened to the world we all grew up in, where has it disappeared to, will it ever return.

All of the above could have been written in the 1930s, and that’s what really worries and concerns me.
Sadly I fear we are living in very dangerous times.
When those in power don’t face justice, when those in power conveniently lie as a norm and escape justice, it’s time to wake up, it’s time to be concerned, and it’s time to take cognisance of all that’s going on in our world. If we fail to do so then the tiny minority who seek to control us with their false promise and their lies, will take us all to a place we don’t want to be.

Is anyone able to shed any light on the LPPA Remediable Service Statement that arrived via email. There seems to be pages of explanations and none of them make it clear (to me) whether I’m going to benefit or be penalised as a result of the court ruling. I retired 9 years ago after 32 years service. TIA

Seven organisations to be investigated over Grenfell fire https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvg1eje2jg4o

Grenfell to be demolished, bereaved families told https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cq5g99xy979o

The Fire Brigades Union has elected a new general secretary.

8,648 FBU members voted in the election, a turnout of 29%. Steve Wright received 5,188 votes (59%), with the incumbent Matt Wrack receiving 3,436 (41%).

Voting ran from 10 December to 14 January.

Steve Wright has served as Vice President of the FBU since 2023, and as the Executive Council member for the Southern region.

Wright has been an FBU member for more than 20 years and first became a branch rep during the 2002-3 pay campaign. He joined Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service in 2001 at the age of 18 and transferred to Oxfordshire fire and rescue in 2006.

His term of office begins immediately.

Steve Wright, Fire Brigades Union general secretary, said:

“I am deeply honoured to have been elected as general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union, and I want to thank all FBU members who participated in this election.

“However you voted, I will work with the Executive Council and all FBU officials every day to deliver for you – together we will fight for your pay, pensions, and terms and conditions.

“I stand by the commitments made to members in my election statement. The FBU remains committed to implementing our policies set by members at our annual conference. Together, we will campaign for a fit-for-purpose fire and rescue service that protects the public and its employees, with genuine investment and national standards.

“Our union has a proud history of standing together, and recent campaigns have shown what can be achieved through unity and determination. We will continue to build on these to win improvements in pay, terms and conditions, safety and lead the fight for equality in the fire and rescue service.

“The strength of our union lies in its members, and I look forward to working with all of our members to deliver on the priorities that we set together.”

Outgoing general secretary Matt Wrack said:

“I am proud to have led the Fire Brigades Union for two decades, a period which has seen eight Prime Ministers. We have fought back against attacks on the fire service and we have laid the ground for real progress.

“Much of the FBU’s work in that time is only now coming to fruition. For the first time in more than twenty years, we should soon see national standards in the fire service, and the FBU is able to play its role in advising ministers directly on fire service policy.

“Because of our campaigning, and that of other unions, we are also likely to see the biggest workers’ rights package in recent years, including the repeal of anti-union laws that sought to ban effective strike action in our sector.

“By mobilising and winning an overwhelming mandate for industrial action, the FBU has won a 16% pay rise over the past three years, with no strings attached. We have also had significant progress on maternity pay and the retaining fee for RDS firefighters.

“I am proud to have led the longest period of strike action in our union’s history, over pensions, in 2013-15. Our legal fight on pensions has won many millions for firefighters and £19bn for workers across the public sector.

“Our DECON campaign has changed the conversation in our sector about fire contaminants.

“The FBU has played a leading role in the fight for equality, in the face of some appalling behaviours and a systemic failure by fire service leadership. This work has meant having difficult conversations inside our union and must be continued.

“I leave the FBU with my head held high. Since the age of 16 I have been an active anti -racist, anti-fascist. I became a socialist as a teenager and I have been a trade unionist all my working life. My views and values have not changed and I will continue that fight.”

https://www.fbu.org.uk/news/2025/01/15/s...-secretary

For those who worked in Glasgow/ Strathclyde brigade and knew Dora Gilmour I received a phone call from her son to say Dora sadly passed away on Friday 10 January. Dora worked at the north fire station until it closed in 1984 then moved to Springburn. When I find out Dora’s funeral arrangements I will post them on here.

RIP Dora.

Anyone have any recommendations for gloves for boat operator. Been out a few times in this cold and the issued ones are crap at keeping my hands warm

Can anyone explain?
I know we have some of you probably have a better understanding than me.
Why does a surgeon say “you need a new knee” then follow it up with “but it’s not bad enough yet” then want to leave you in pain and struggling to walk