The story on last week’s front page – Union anger at fire strike plea (Keighley News, August 15) – whereby retired fire-fighters and members of the public are to be recruited to cover any possible industrial action, is very much of concern to us all.

There are huge safety implications for both the public and those being used as strike-breakers. However, I am also deeply concerned by the typical response from our local MP.

I was very disappointed by the remark from Kris Hopkins in this paper, and I quote: “I think it’s right management should take whatever measures are necessary to ensure the public is safe.” What he failed to do was to either defend or distance himself from the cause of the impending strike action. The cause is the coalition government plan to send 60-year-old men and women into burning buildings, carrying out one of the most physically demanding roles imaginable. If those men and women are not able to carry out their role to the age of 60, they will lose a huge percentage of their pension. It is Mr Hopkins’s Tory cuts that are impacting on those who keep us all safe day and night. Will our MP do anything to stop these cuts in Parliament? Instead of just voting for deep and damaging cuts, should an MP not put his constituents first?

As a trade unionist, I believe the Government is taking chances with the lives of all of us in our community. This strike should not be happening at all. It is possibly going to happen, though, due to this Tory-led government.

Henri Murison Southfield Terrace Addingham