Brian Coleman - "Probably the most popular politician in London"

For those of us who have followed the London Fire dispute, there is a sense of wonder at vigour with which chair of the London Fire Authority, Brian Coleman has tried to wind up the Fire Brigade Union. I've wondered what sort of a man would deliberately seek to antagonise a profession so widely respected by all.

Well, reports of a conversation have reached the Barnet Eye, where Brian seems to confirm that the whole thing is a deliberate strategy. Of course this is "hear say". We all know that Brian has my email address so if he wishes to email me and tell me that this isn't true, I'd be more than happy to print a clarification of what exactly he said.

Anyway, it appears that Brian was asked whether it was wise to pick such a public fight with Londons Brave firemen and he responded "Listen, everyone is sick of bully boy unions. Everyone thinks it's time we stood up to them. I'm probably the most popular politician in London for doing this"

I wonder if Boris Johnson is quaking in his boots at the thought of a challenge from Brian Coleman. Methinks all of this press coverage is going to Our Brians head.

My Pride in Londons Firemen - Local Tory confirms Coleman is no end of an ass !

Ok, hands up how many people would walk into a building which is on fire to rescue another human being?

Hands up how many people would walk down a tunnel towards a tube train, which has been blown up and may have other bombs on it?

Hands up how many people would try and douse a fire which may set off Aceteline welding gas, which would go up with the force of a medium sized bomb?

These are all things I've seen London Firemen do. I doubt anyone joins the fire brigade to let people burn to death. Today the Firemen called off their 47 hour strike to engage in talks chaired by an independent body. Some commentators see this as a sign of weakness, I see it as confirmation that our London Firemen are a class above the petty minded bosses who are trying to impose all manner of tawdry cost savings measures on the staff.

I've heard various people in the Fire Brigade management describe the FBU as dinosaurs for opposing shift changes, but how many people, especially families with childcare issues, would happily agree to suddenly work completely different hours. Most readers of this blog will work 9-5 jobs. If your boss suddenly said "We want you to work from 2pm till 10pm, Monday to Friday, because it's better for the business" would you? Of course it's always easier when we are pontificating about other peoples arrangements. I know a couple of firemen and they tell me that if the new changes are brought in, they will face huge extra costs and disruptions as their wives will need to change working hours, get additional childcare or even change jobs. We arrange our lives to suit work. It's OK if you are like the Chair of the Fire Service, Brian Coleman, on £114,000 per year with no kids and living in a subsidised home. If you are like my friends, every extra hour you need childcare costs you a fortune.

I don't know a single fireman who wants to strike, I know plenty who feel they have to. I was talking recently to the mum of one. I've known her for years and she's a lovely old lady. She knew of my standards case against Brian Coleman and started to tell me exactly what she thinks of him. I was shocked as she turned the air blue. I hope Londoners appreciate the fact that they are lucky to have such people in public service.

In Great Britain we have a long history of "lions lead by donkeys". When I look at he London fire brigade bosses, I must say that I think calling them Donkeys is being extremely generous and very unfair to donkeys, otherwise known as Asses.

I asked a leading local Tory if he thought Brian Coleman was like the back end of an Ass. He replied "No, of course not". I happily agreed. I then asked if he was like the front end of an Ass. Again he said "No, why would I say such a thing". I then said "I'm glad we're in total agreement that Brian Coleman is no end of an ass". He found that quite amusing but asked me not to name him, as apparently "Lynne Hillan doesn't really do jokes".

Boris Johnson and the cost of inept leadership

Yesterday the Fire strike, tonight the tubes are on strike. There is a common theme. Boris Johnson. He's the man in charge. The cost of these strikes is enormous. Both are unnecessary. Both will be solved when management and unions compromise, as they surely will. In both cases management are taking a hard line. In both cases, it's ordinary Londoners rather than the bosses who ultimately suffer. In both cases, the changes management want to impose have implications for the safety of Londoners. The fire strike is about protecting fire cover and firemens efficiency. In the tube strike it's about enusring that stations are manned.

In both cases Boris Johnson is nowhere to be seen. He's the boss and he's our representative as Mayor, he should be banging heads together to get both disputes resolved. The heads he needs to bang are those of the management. Although Boris likes to pretend it's all about Union intransigence, the Firemen aren't on strike elsewhere. Bob Crow leads the RMT and they are a national rail union. They aren't on strike everywhere else. In my experience, strikes are a sign of inept leadership. Given that Boris thinks his old chum Brian Coleman is the man best suited to solving the problems, it's clear that he doesn't understand how to run a whelk stall, let alone the worlds greatest city.

Don't fall for the spin Boris likes to give. It's his fault. He should show a bit of leadership in both disputes. His negligence is criminal.

London Fire Dispute : Brian Coleman - Boris Johnsons sock puppet

People have been driving me bonkers today. As we've had the joyful spectacle of Brian Coleman spouting forth about the firemen and the strike, people seem to think I'm the man for a quote. Well sorry to say that I'm not going to play today. You see, for once I'm really not that bothered about Brian Coleman and his views on the subject and I don't think anyone else should be. You see Brian Coleman is really just Boris Johnsons sock puppet. Boris appointed Brian Coleman to the job. It is inconceivable that Brian Coleman has a different view on the matter to Boris. There may be differences in style, but Boris must be where the buck stops. Boris used to lecture Ken Livingstone on the need to talk to the RMT when there were tube strikes. Now the firemen are on strike, Boris is nowhere to be seen.

Boris isn't stupid. Coleman is doing his dirty work. If he wins, it's a victory for Boris, if he loses, Coleman will carry the can. What is truly amazing is the fact that Boris Johnson isn't mentioned at all. His strategy is working like a charm and all of the Unions, all of the media and all of the blogging community has bought this.

Except the Barnet Eye. If you really want to see the dispute resolved, forget the oily rag. Don't mention Coleman, blame Boris. He appointed the sock puppet. he must agree with his strategy and his comments. Coleman is and easy figure to vilify and Boris is an easy figure to warm to. It's a classic routine, good cop, bad cop.

I don't buy it, write it everywhere in big letters -
BORIS JOHNSON IS 100% TO BLAME FOR THE FIREMEN STRIKE

If I was a London Fireman I'd go on strike

The Firemen of London have voted to go on strike. 80% voted for a strike, a huge total. The man who is in charge of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority is none other than Barnet Councillor Brian Coleman. Those of us who have followed the dispute know that Mr Coleman has been provoking the FBU, trying to goad them into a strike. Mr Coleman is on record as a "union basher". It is also a matter of public record that the private company, ASSETTCO, who provide strike cover, have sumptuously wined and dined Coleman. I've been on the receiving end of communications from Coleman. They were so rude, I reported him to the standards committee and won. As a result of his intransigence, people will die. It is a disgrace. Boris Johnson should sack him and appoint a reasonable person, who wants to run a service, not destroy it. If I was a fireman, I'd go on strike. Brave men deserve better.