FIREFIGHTERS once again turned hoses on Tory ministers yesterday — kicking off a four-day strike in response to the government’s refusal to negotiate on pensions and the retirement age.

Despite two months of talks, Eric Pickles’s Department for Communities and Local Government has refused to bring a new offer to the table.

This is in spite of Mr Pickles’s deputy Penny Mordaunt promising that she wanted to bring the dispute to a close.

Firefighters walked out 6pm yesterday and weren’t due to dismantle their picket lines until Tuesday.

The Fire Brigades Union has mounted a series of walkouts — mostly for a few hours at a time — over the past year, with ministers repeatedly messing reps around and cancelling talks.

FBU general secretary Matt Wrack (right) said: “Firefighters will not stand by and see our members’ pension rights destroyed by a government which does not give a damn about the safety or well-being of firefighters.

“The public do not want 60-year-olds tackling fires. Everyone understands the stupidity of these plans — except government ministers.

“We remain committed to resolving this dispute in the interests of our members and the public at large.”

Under government plans, firefighters will have to work until they are 60 instead of 55, and pay up to £1,438 a year more in pension contributions.

The FBU has presented ministers with evidence that the extra five years of work would put workers and the public in danger.

The Westminster government, which controls only the English fire service, stands alone in its stubbornness — with the devolved governments of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland bringing new offers to the table.

Labour MP Kate Hoey, who chairs the FBU’s parliamentary group, said: “It is very disappointing that the government has not taken the steps to resolve the situation reasonably.

“On Wednesday I asked the Prime Minister to step in personally, and I know that the public will share my concern that the government has instead insisted on unfair changes that have provoked this industrial action.”

Ms Mordaunt branded strikes “unnecessary” and told news agencies that “robust” contingency plans to break the strike were in place.

conradlandin@peoples-press.com