It emerged over the weekend that Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service’s (GMFRS) “race and faith” network sent a shocking anti-Reform email to its firefighters back in April, targeting staff members standing as Reform UK candidates in May’s local elections.
In a taxpayer-funded emergency service, staff were warned about their colleagues’ politics. The email reportedly noted that some staff members had chosen to represent Reform UK in their local areas. It said this might “cause concern”, and added that the individuals involved had been “spoken to”.
This is deeply concerning. Firefighters have every right to stand for a lawful political party without being treated as problematic or toxic.
Reform UK Shadow Home Secretary Zia Yusuf has since written to GMFRS demanding answers. He is right to do so.
As Yusuf put it, sending “an anti-Reform UK political broadcast on public systems during a regulated election period is a shocking breach of electoral neutrality”. That is exactly the point. Public services are meant to serve the public, not police the political opinions of their staff.
One of the most chilling details about this witch hunt is the language used to justify it. The email reportedly said the service was seeking legal guidance to ensure its “inclusive culture remains safe”.
What does that mean in practice? That supporting Reform UK is a threat to workplace safety? That standing as a Reform UK candidate is incompatible with being a good firefighter? That an “inclusive” workplace only includes people with the "correct" political opinions?
This is the great hypocrisy at the heart of modern public-sector activism. It preaches tolerance while treating millions of ordinary voters as morally suspect. It claims to defend diversity while trying to enforce political conformity. It talks endlessly about safety, but creates an atmosphere in which staff may fear for their careers if they support the wrong party.
GMFRS should apologise to Reform UK and to the firefighters affected. It should explain who authorised this email, whether public resources were used, and what action will now be taken.
With trade union members now just as likely to vote Reform UK as Labour, we are fast becoming the voice of British workers. That tells you why the establishment is panicking. And as our grassroots movement grows, so will the attacks against us.
In a taxpayer-funded emergency service, staff were warned about their colleagues’ politics. The email reportedly noted that some staff members had chosen to represent Reform UK in their local areas. It said this might “cause concern”, and added that the individuals involved had been “spoken to”.
This is deeply concerning. Firefighters have every right to stand for a lawful political party without being treated as problematic or toxic.
Reform UK Shadow Home Secretary Zia Yusuf has since written to GMFRS demanding answers. He is right to do so.
As Yusuf put it, sending “an anti-Reform UK political broadcast on public systems during a regulated election period is a shocking breach of electoral neutrality”. That is exactly the point. Public services are meant to serve the public, not police the political opinions of their staff.
One of the most chilling details about this witch hunt is the language used to justify it. The email reportedly said the service was seeking legal guidance to ensure its “inclusive culture remains safe”.
What does that mean in practice? That supporting Reform UK is a threat to workplace safety? That standing as a Reform UK candidate is incompatible with being a good firefighter? That an “inclusive” workplace only includes people with the "correct" political opinions?
This is the great hypocrisy at the heart of modern public-sector activism. It preaches tolerance while treating millions of ordinary voters as morally suspect. It claims to defend diversity while trying to enforce political conformity. It talks endlessly about safety, but creates an atmosphere in which staff may fear for their careers if they support the wrong party.
GMFRS should apologise to Reform UK and to the firefighters affected. It should explain who authorised this email, whether public resources were used, and what action will now be taken.
With trade union members now just as likely to vote Reform UK as Labour, we are fast becoming the voice of British workers. That tells you why the establishment is panicking. And as our grassroots movement grows, so will the attacks against us.
