MQT Transcript: Euston Fire Station
Euston Fire Station
Oral Question
Jennette Arnold (Chair): Can we move on now, Assembly Member [Andrew] Dismore.
Andrew Dismore (AM): It seems to me that we are in Orwellian 1984 Big Brother territory. One the one had we have sycophancy from the other side over there and on the other side we have got Newspeak from the Mayor, who talks about maximising coal when we are facing fire cuts. It just does not make sense to me. I would like to ask you particularly about Euston Fire Station, one of the busiest in London, which is on this list, which is in the Evening Standard 8 June 2012, for the illumination of Mr Bacon, quoting fire service sources saying that it is one of those facing merger. I would like to ask you categorically, is Euston Fire Station facing merger or not? If it is, why, is it something to do with trying to maximise the value of the land with HS2 coming?
Boris Johnson (Mayor of London): I really think that when you talk about fire cuts, Mr Dismore, you should be careful in your language. If you are attacking us, or attacking LFEPA for fire cuts —
Andrew Dismore (AM): No, I am attacking you. I am asking for assurances from you.
Boris Johnson (Mayor of London): I am very proud that there have been fire cuts. There have been fire cuts. There have been continued reductions in fires in London, thanks to the work of the Fire Brigade and LFEPA. I congratulate Brian Coleman [former Chairman of LFEPA] in the past. If it is now the policy of the Labour Party to attack the work of LFEPA and to jump up and down about fire cuts, when in fact —
Andrew Dismore (AM): I am asking a simple question, is Euston Fire Station under threat or not?
Boris Johnson (Mayor of London): On any sensible construction of the language LFEPA have done a very good job.
Andrew Dismore (AM): Simple question, yes or no, is Euston Fire Station under threat or not? Just tell me, is Euston Fire Station under threat or not? Simple question.
Boris Johnson (Mayor of London): I do not think Euston Fire Station is —
Jennette Arnold (Chair): [Assembly Member Dismore] you are shouting.
Boris Johnson (Mayor of London): I do not mind being shouted at by this chap. If Euston Fire Station is under threat, it is no more under threat than — was it Manchester Square? No less under threat than Manchester Square was under threat from the Labour Party.
