Thousands of firefighters in England marched through Westminster as part of a 24-hour strike over pensions. They carried local brigade flags and placards reading “Liars” and “Save our pensions.”
The march coincides with industrial action taking place throughout England, due to finish at 07:00 GMT on Thursday.
The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) accuses the government of backtracking on assurances made over pensions.
According to the union, the government promised that firefighters over the age of 55 who failed a fitness test through no fault of their own would receive a full pension or a redeployed role.
However, fire authorities and the Fire and Rescue Service have claimed that no such guarantee exists.
The union accuses Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Penny Mordaunt of lying to parliament after she made the assurances to the House of Commons.
In a statement, FBU general secretary Matt Wrack said: “Firefighters are justifiably angry with how this government is treating them.”
We are firefighters @PennyMordauntMP#NoMoreLiespic.twitter.com/KtmMSNEvCk
— Fire Brigades Union (@fbunational) February 25, 2015
“MPs, the public and firefighters were completely misled and given a false guarantee in order to pass the legislation. This is wrong.”
“Firefighters will be protesting in parliament to make their voices heard. They will be asking David Cameron what he is going to do to ensure his government delivers its guarantee,” he added. “We will not accept these lies – If they can lie to firefighters they can lie to anyone and everyone.”
Mordaunt ducked out of an opportunity to debate with the FBU about the strike, the union claims. She allegedly ignored an invitation to appear on her local radio station, and has also refused to meet union representatives on three separate occasions.
Wrack said the fact that Mordaunt is avoiding having an “honest conversation” about the pension dispute is a “disgrace.”
“We have been labelled ‘militant’ by the government however they are the ones refusing to talk to us and ignoring the concerns of firefighters,” he said.
Meanwhile, several people on Twitter have offered their support to the striking firefighters, including Green MP Caroline Lucas, who said: “Solidarity to firefighters today.”
Solidarity to firefighters today pic.twitter.com/WtDYEqTIcw@fbunational@eastsussexfbu
— Caroline Lucas (@CarolineLucas) February 25, 2015
Twitter user @MistressPie, who proudly states she is “anti-establishment” on her profile, also offered her support. “#Solidarity with @fbunational as #firefighters strike today. They bravely put their own lives at risk to save lives,” she said.
#Solidarity with @fbunational as #firefighters strike today. They bravely put their own lives at risk to save lives. pic.twitter.com/GhgUXdMSbF
— Mistress Pie (@MistressPie) February 25, 2015
The Government has lied to firefighters over their pensions, thousands protest at Westminster Hall #FBU#FireLiarpic.twitter.com/VK5iGV48X5
— Mark Rowe (@MarkRowe10) February 25, 2015
“The government has lied to firefighters over their pensions, thousands protest at Westminster Hall,” added freelance journalist Mark Rowe.