FIREFIGHTERS yesterday turned hoses on hypocrite Lib Dems — after six MPs who claimed to oppose pension cuts voted against an attempt to extinguish government plans.

The Fire Brigades’ Union is locked in a bitter dispute with Con-Dem ministers pushing through plans to raise their retirement age from 55 to 60 and make workers pay more in pension contributions.

Twenty-two Liberal Democrat MPs signed up to an Early Day Motion sponsored by Labour leader Ed Miliband — which called for the pension scheme changes for firefighters in England to be annulled. 

But when Labour pushed the issue to a Commons vote on Monday, only seven voted in favour, with nine abstaining and six voting against.

The Morning Star contacted the half dozen “guilty men” yesterday. All but two — Chippenham MP Duncan Hames and Birmingham Yardley MP John Hemming — declined to comment.

Both men said they had been assured by fire minister Penny Mordaunt’s claim that a firefighter forced to work beyond 55 who failed fitness tests could retire on an “unreduced” pension.

“This was a key change which deals with the key issue of age-related fitness,” said Mr Hemming.

Mr Hames said he had signed the EDM to “help secure a debate and add to the pressure on the government to give ground in relation to firefighters’ understandable concerns.”

But Andy Newman, who will stand against Mr Hames for Labour at next year’s general election, said he was “absolutely not surprised” by his opponent’s behaviour.

“In 2010, Duncan Hames promised his constituents that voting for him was the best way to stop a Tory government being elected,” he said.

“In my opinion, he is a man without political integrity.”

And Alex Sobel, who will face Greg Mulholland, a signatory to the EDM who abstained in Monday’s vote, told the Star Lib Dem MPs were “promising to help but failing to turn up when it really matters.”

FBU London secretary Paul Embery said: “This was an opportunity for Lib Dem MPs to distance themselves from the Tories, and demonstrate that they are on the side of working people. Most failed the test.

“But we have placed our dispute firmly back on the political agenda at Westminster. The key message is we are not going away.”

Half a dozen guilty men:

Chippenham MP Duncan Hames: "I pressed the minister at Local Government questions earlier in the day."
Bradford East MP David Ward: no comment
Birmingham Yardley MP John Hemming: "The government offered an unreduced pension to firefighters who are not offered redeployment."
Cheadle MP Mark Hunter: no comment
Redcar MP Ian Swales: no comment
Eastleigh MP Mike Thornton: no comment