Kirkby Times is 100% behind the Fire Fighters action and the mood in Kirkby is one of Public Support. The Fire Fighters themselves at Kirkby are manning the picket lines, like their fellow workers all over the Country. The Fire Fighters Union must be admired for being the first to throw down the gauntlet to the Blair Government. The decision has not been easy, but in doing so they have set the stage for what will be the most important battle the Working Class have seen since Thatchers ultimate defeat of the Miners Union.

So far the Fire Strike in Liverpool has saw a comical episode where a Green Goddess arrived to put out a burning Car and found that no water was coming out the hose. 20 minutes later, they managed to hook the hose up to a nearby water main. The media will be under instructions to generally present the Armed Forces in as good a light as possible. But Judging from an Army commander being interviewed on BBC News, it is not too difficult to see that the Army must be aggrieved at being used as Pawns in the general mess made by politicians. the Commander was asked what the top speed of a Green Goddess was to which the Captain replied "It's 50 miles per hour" the reporter then asked "Had the Vehicles been tested at that speed" To which the cream of the British Armed Forces replied....."No" ,looking a wee bit sheepish as you would.

Below: Just One Green Goddess in Kirkby parked in Kirkby Police Station whilst troops wait inside.

The money being spent on the Army trying and failing to do the job of the fire service, will likely have been put aside by New Labour who at the same time will claim there is no money. Let no-one be mistaken here. The people of England are being conned left right and center by a bunch of Middle Class pen pushers and Lawyers as to what money 'we' have. Our cost of living has soared compared to our European Neighbors, we pay through the nose with taxes on everything but the air we breath. Meanwhile, we have seen the gap between the haves and have nots grow to worrying proportions. Our wage rises have barely kept up with the cost of living. In real terms, we have actually fell behind. Thoughout the 80's and 90's Billions and Billions were amassed from sell off of everything including the sale of Council Homes and all the privatised utilities like Gas, Water and Electricity. This money, instead of being used to properly fund the Fire Service, is being squandered on useless schemes and mad insane beaurocratic commitee's who seem to have mushroomed under the Blair Regime.

Below, Rats!.........

The Fire Brigade Union are asking for £30,00 a year. not to unreasonable a request given the dangerous nature of the job. It is a disgrace for ANY MP to turn on the Fire Service and accuse them of asking for too much. the Fire Service are NOT JUST OUT ON STRIKE OVER MONEY, the Media want to put this down to a simple matter of more money but the Governments 'modernisation' of the Fire Service is a major issue here. The Lads out on the Picket line in Kirkby know that the Fire Service itself is threatened and when the Government talk of 'modernisation' it generally means making cuts left right and center, undermining conditions and messing things up. Kirkby Times wishes all the best of luck in the World to the those at Kirkby Fire Station. We also wish all the worse of luck in the World to the privileged at the top of society, the likes of Blair and Prescott who, unlike most ordinary working class people, never want for nothing.

Below, Tony Blair as pictured on top of a bonfire. Burning Guy Fawkes is a bit silly, after all he tried to do us all a favour!