... so the government have won ...

... a war they they appear to have started - there was an agreement of around 16% with the employers - in June this year - but the central government blocked it. The agreement put on the agenda discussions on restructuring - or modernisation as the government calls it.

Thinking it through the health service - the train service - buses - the police - education and even public lavatories have been modernised - and yes - they've certainly changed - needing more management - and more paperwork - except in the case of the public lavatories - where the paperwork seems to have declined.

There seems to be an annoyance that the fireman work 48 hours - as opposed to what? - 37 hours for office workers.

- and then there is annoyance that some firemen do part time work in their spare time - running their directorships - paid speaking engagements - running consultancy projects - foreign junkets - well no - but working class things - like cabbying and doing some decorating - and that shouldn't be allowed - after all they shouldn't be free to use their spare time the way they want to - like say a milkman - or postmen.

... and then they don't work all the time - well that sort of is the point of an emergency service - its there on call - when needed. No call outs mean - well that all is well in the world - and believe it not they do a little training - a little cleaning - a little maintaining - and - a little? - paperwork - because we need some of that.

Apparently due to the period of the strike fires have declined and the death rate from fires has decreased - working on the government logic - if we completely got rid of the fire brigade and employed one green goddess - then we would have no fires - serious car crashes - chemical spillages - or floods - and - sorry - but - Tony - please listen - I'm being ironic - this would not really work - honest.

I am also concerned about the way the ordinary firemen and women have been pilloried - one or two journalists have tried to make it appear that there is a conflict between the army and the brigade. This is appalling.

Within the next six months Al Qaeda is going to attempt to hit Britain hard. As we are the closest link to America - if they succeed then we are going to get hit hard - where - and how - we are hit - is anyone's guess - but we are the prime target - by hitting us - they don't get the full wrath they'll get by hitting America - and they know - we can't hit back as hard - and America will not - when the chips are down - risk American lives - to avenge British deaths.

So why demoralise the fire brigade at this point in time? - why argue about something that was already close to agreement? To play some sort of macho game? To punish the FBU for electing an old left leader? To keep public sector pay down? or some more elaborate game involving Tony and Gordon - and their political ambitions?

So - can I ask - Tony, Gordon and the guy whose name I don't know in the scruffy suit - when you modernise - and reduce the force - which will mean that the job becomes riskier - and increases the risk to the public - can I ask the following two questions

... how many firemen's lives, lost, will be acceptable for the cost savings?

... how many public lives, lost, will be acceptable for the cost savings?