Yorkshire fire services ‘in crisis over £19m cut’

FIRE BRIGADES in Yorkshire have suffered real-terms cut of £19m since 2016, new analysis has revealed.

According to research carried out for Barnsley East MP Stephanie Peacock, inset, by the House of Commons library, fire and rescue services in the region have suffered an 18 per cent reduction in funding in real terms since Theresa May became Prime Minister in 2016.

The research found that West Yorkshire Fire services had lost out on £8m in real terms, with a £4.8m fall in South Yorkshire, £2.5m in North Yorkshire and £4.1m in Humberside.

Commenting on the study, Ms Peacock said emergency services were reaching “crisis point”, after years of escalating financial pressures.

She told The Yorkshire Post that the latest round of cuts is “firmly at the Prime Minister’s own door”.

She added: “She promised an end to austerity, but it clearly isn’t over for the emergency services who work so hard to keep us safe. They have been doing their best despite years of relentless cuts from Tory governments, but I fear that we could now be approaching crisis point.

“I will urgently raise these concerns in the Commons and fight for the money we need for local homes and businesses to be protected.”

The Home Office has been approached for comment.