Chief ‘sacked for protest at budgets’

GONG Russell Pearson & Queen SURREY’S fire chief was sacked last week for daring to challenge his bosses on further budget cuts, the FBU claimed.

Russell Pearson was honoured by the Queen for his “dedication” to the emergency services and the public this year.

But he is said to have been “ousted” as punishment for saying a further reduction in funding would leave his service unable to protect the public.

Richard Jones, of the FBU, said: “I am in no doubt that the only reason Surrey County Council would replace Russell Pearson is so they can get someone in to do a hatchet job, to make cuts without any regard to public or firefighter safety.”

A council spokesman said it was “making significant investment” to the service.