Firefighters stand against Labour at polls

Firefighters in Scotland are to fight Labour at the ballot box in frustration at their treatment by the government over pay.

More than 30 firefighters are to stand as independent candidates in the council elections.

The firefighters, all members of the Fire Brigades Union who have taken strike action during the on-going pay dispute, have decided to stand against their local councillors on May 1 under the banner of Firefighters Against Public Sector Cuts. The FBU cannot officially endorse the candidates, and would be disaffiliated from the Labour party if it did so.

The move, which reflects the growing disaffection among firefighters with Labour at local and national level, is another potentially damaging blow to the party following The Herald's revelation on Saturday that the party's popularity in Scotland is collapsing because of Tony Blair's tough line on Iraq.

The firefighters will stand mainly against councillors who currently sit on the council-funded fire boards that control fire services in their area.

Although the chances of firefighters winning seats are believed to be slim, they could make a significant impact by splitting the vote in some closely contested wards, and increase the chances of other candidates, such as the SNP and the Scottish Socialist party, defeating Labour. The Herald