Yahoo News Boris Johnson criticised for slashing fire services - but blowing £37m on 'vanity' bridge
Boris Johnson is facing criticism for slashing fire services in 2013 and 2014 while he was London mayor – but spending £37m on London’s Garden Bridge project.
The planned bridge is now almost certain never to be built.
Labour MP Grahame Morris said on Twitter, ‘As Mayor of London, Boris Johnson closed 10 fire stations but spent £37 million on plans for a vanity bridge which will never be built.’
Read more about the Grenfall Tower fire
Fire death toll set to rise as grim search for victims continues
Firefighters praised after sick lies spread that it ‘took them two hours to arrive’
Kind-hearted strangers raise more than £1 million for victims of Grenfell Tower blaze
Man arrested after ‘taking pictures of the dead’ at Grenfell tower block
Devastated Grenfell Tower resident claims fire was caused by his fridge exploding
In the wake of the Grenfell Tower disaster, video has circulated showing Boris Johnson telling a rival politician to ‘get stuffed’ in 2013 when he was criticised over plans to cut fire fighting services.
As Mayor of London, Boris Johnson closed 10 fire stations but spent £37 million on plans for a vanity bridge which will never be built. https://t.co/6J7aKeGUP4
— Grahame Morris (@grahamemorris) June 15, 2017
Boris’s cuts – implemented in 2014 – closed 10 fire stations, with the loss of 552 firefighters’ jobs.
Labour Assembly leader Andrew Dismore asked then-Mayor Boris, ‘How can cutting fire stations, cutting fire engines and cutting firefighters post not be a reduction in fire cover? You’ve lied to the people of London.’
Boris snapped, ‘Get stuffed’ – but apologised saying, ‘It just popped out.’
When the cuts were implemented in 2014, firefighters wept and embraced each other outside stations which closed – including Britain’s oldest, in Clerkenwell.
Video of the clash has circulated widely on social media in the wake of today’s Grenfell Tower disaster.
