In my capacity as RFU President I attended my first meeting with the Minister, Bob Neill MP on the 30th June accompanied by General Secretary John Barton and Assistant General Secretary Tristan Ashby.

We discussed national issues which will be reported on in due course but further meetings that day focused entirely on the ongoing concerns regarding the Warwickshire stations closures.

Advance planning enabled the opportunity for a number of meetings in London with various MPs at Portcullis House including the Warwick and Leamington MP Chris White (third left in picture), Chris had taken the initiative and was fortunate to have secured a debate in Westminster Hall. We were also joined by North Warwickshire MP Dan Byles, himself a stalwart supporter of the campaign against the planned closure of Bedworth.

When the debate commenced, we sat in the public gallery and witnessed a passionate speech on behalf of the communities of Warwickshire in the face of the plan to close stations. Chris White was well supported by all the other Warwickshire MP’s and it is appropriate that they receive a mention in this circular.

• Nadhim Zahawi, Conservative MP for Stratford-on-Avon, (left in picture) covering Alcester, Studley and Bidford Fire Stations
• Dan Byles, Conservative MP for North Warwickshire, (second right in picture) covering Bedworth Fire Station
• Jeremy Wright, Conservative MP for Kenilworth and Southam (third right in picture)
• Mark Pawsey, Conservative MP for Rugby, (not in picture) covering Brinklow Fire Station

The mechanics of a debate are that the sponsor (Chris White) makes a speech in the presence of the appropriate minister, in this case Bob Neill, who, at the end of the speech and interventions by others present, responds for the government. Amongst a number of comments made, the minister did say regarding the Atherstone enquiry that, ‘An argument can be advanced for bearing in mind the outcome of that inquiry before coming to any final conclusions on the shape of the service’.

We are in total agreement with this comment; we have long held the view that the perceived outcome of the Atherstone inquiry is being used to engineer a business case for cutting Retained fire stations. We believe it is far better to await the outcome and then bring forward any proposals based upon the report.

During the discussions which followed the debate, one thing is perfectly clear, the Warwickshire MPs are totally on the side of the firefighters under threat and the communities they serve. I can also give you a solemn commitment on behalf of the RFU that until we get a decision on the 20th July, no opportunity to lobby the decision makers will be wasted.

Tony Morgan
RFU President