Glasgow East by-election: Curran accused over role in scrapping fire targets

Published on Friday 18 July 2008 22:05

MARGARET Curran, the Labour candidate for Glasgow East, has been accused of forgetting her role in scrapping guaranteed fire service response times.

A row has broken out in the Glasgow East by-election after Ms Curran supported a campaign to save the Parkhead Fire Station from closure. The proposal would see two stations merged and staff and appliances reduced. She said: "Not a brick should come off unless the replacement has the same number of fire engines and better response times."

But the remark has angered firefighters who point out that she voted for the Fire (Scotland) Act in 2005 which scrapped guaranteed response times of five minutes and handed more powers to chief fire officers.

One firefighter said: "She seems to have forgotten that she is partly responsible. It really is hypocritical of her now to talk in this way."

John Docherty, the Fire Brigades Union Scotland official, added: "I'm glad Ms Curran seems to recognise that she made a mistake."

But a spokesman for Ms Curran said: "The act was right because it gave power to make these decisions to local people. But that does not mean she is in favour of reducing a service that is vital."

An SNP spokeswoman said: "Once again Margaret Curran has been caught hiding from her responsibility."