The decision by firefighters to back strike action should come as no surprise to anyone. These heroes put their lives on the line every day – as was tragically demonstrated last week with the death of brave Barry Martin while battling the Jenners blaze in Edinburgh.
Despite their vital work keeping us safe, firefighters were offered a measly five per cent pay rise by the UK Government.
Firefighters are just the latest group to withdraw their labour over unacceptable offers. Refuse collectors made Edinburgh an international laughing stock in the summer when they went on strike.
Teachers are also in the middle of industrial action. NHS workers and ambulance staff may follow them after voting to strike over pay offers.
All these staff groups have one thing in common – they provide vital services that all of us rely on. And it is clear that they will not agree to rises that make them poorer due to soaring inflation.
Although some of the strikes raise questions about the Scottish Government’s funding of councils, the blame for these tensions ultimately lies at the door of the Tory Government.
Gross economic mismanagement, results in less money for public services. The Truss Government’s disastrous economic experiment fuelled inflation, reportedly costing the UK £30billion.
Little wonder public servants complain that decisions made at Westminster are hitting them in the pocket. Clapping our 999 heroes is fine but it is no substitute for a pay rise so staff can keep their heads above water.
This country desperately needs a Government generating extra revenue by getting the economy back on track. Not a bunch of wreckers who focus on enriching the wealthy elite who put them into power in the first place.
More Tory sleaze as treasurer is questioned about tax
Graham Edwards is the latest Tory grandee to have questions asked about his tax affairs. The Tory party treasurer and property tycoon was landed with a bill after he was found to have wrongly used a tax avoidance scheme.
Edwards was hired by Rishi Sunak to run the party’s finances but has now been dragged into a growing row engulfing the Conservatives.
It’s another reminder that from the Prime Minister down, the Tories have been taken over by the super rich. They don’t care about ordinary people which is why they look like they’ll get booted out at the next election.
Sunak promised integrity when he took over after the mess of Johnson and Truss. But instead we see more and more allegations of money-grabbing sleaze at the heart of the UK Government.
The next general election can’t come soon enough.
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