FIRE Brigades Union vice-president Steve Wright has been elected the new leader of the union, beating incumbent Matt Wrack, it was revealed today.

Mr Wrack had been seeking another term of office after two decades in the post of general secretary.

He had been involved in a number of disputes over pay, jobs and conditions, regularly speaking at rallies and meetings pressing the case for improved workers’ rights under the Labour government.

He was recently the president of the TUC.

Mr Wright won 5,188 votes, compared with 3,436 for Mr Wrack in the election, which had a turnout of 29 per cent.

Mr Wrack said he is proud to have led the FBU for two decades, noting there had been eight prime ministers over the period.

“We have fought back against attacks on the fire service and we have laid the ground for real progress,” he said.

“Much of the FBU’s work in that time is only now coming to fruition. For the first time in more than 20 years, we should soon see national standards in the fire service, and the FBU is able to play its role in advising ministers directly on fire service policy.

“Because of our campaigning, and that of other unions, we are also likely to see the biggest workers’ rights package in recent years, including the repeal of anti-union laws that sought to ban effective strike action in our sector.

“By mobilising and winning an overwhelming mandate for industrial action, the FBU has won a 16% pay rise over the past three years, with no strings attached. We have also had significant progress on maternity pay and the retaining fee for RDS firefighters.

“I am proud to have led the longest period of strike action in our union’s history, over pensions, in 2013-15. Our legal fight on pensions has won many millions for firefighters and £19 billion for workers across the public sector.

“The FBU has played a leading role in the fight for equality, in the face of some appalling behaviours and a systemic failure by fire service leadership. This work has meant having difficult conversations inside our union and must be continued.

“I leave the FBU with my head held high. Since the age of 16 I have been an active anti-racist, anti-fascist. I became a socialist as a teenager and I have been a trade unionist all my working life.

“My views and values have not changed and I will continue that fight.”