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The chair of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority (LFEPA), Councillor Brian Coleman, has been called upon to "consider his position" after labelling as "dizzy" and an "airhead" a woman who dialled 999 when sparks began to fly from her boiler.
Cllr Coleman's remarks were branded "sexist", and the woman involved said she will be writing to the London Fire Brigade commissioner, Ron Dobson, to protest.
The woman, who was in the house late at night with her two daughters, feared there would be an explosion, and later paid tribute to the firefighters who attended the incident.
Councillor Coleman told the Daily Mail, “She has shown herself to be completely dizzy. Airheads and airlocks are obviously not unrelated.”
It has been suggested that Cllr Coleman's remarks were politically-motivated, in light of the fact that the woman was a political figure from a rival party. However, critics say that Coleman should not have allowed narrow political considerations to override his judgement as the leading figure on a public authority.
Cllr Coleman also suggested the woman send a cheque for £250 to the London Fire Brigade in recompense for the incident, in what would be a break with centuries of tradition of the fire service being free at the point of use for members of the public.
As head of LFEPA, Cllr Coleman has a duty to promote sound equalities and diversity policies. He recently claimed that the brigade was "taking the lead on equality issues". Despite this, Coleman has previously come under fire for making gratuitous remarks about immigrants, members of the travelling community and stroke victims. He has regularly attacked firefighters for engaging in “Spanish practices”, and was widely condemned five years ago for using a local authority computer to conduct an email exchange with a fellow councillor, in which each compiled a “lust list” of most fanciable colleagues. Just last month, Coleman poured scorn on centuries of London Fire Brigade heritage when he called for the closure of the brigade’s museum, remarking, “When you’ve seen one brass helmet, you’ve seen them all.”
The FBU’s regional secretary for London, Joe MacVeigh, said, “Councillor Coleman needs to decide whether he wants to be a serious political figure or whether he wants to continue playing the role of complete buffoon. He holds a position of enormous responsibility, and he should be dignified and statesmanlike in everything he does. Instead, he blunders around, whipping up controversy, and trying to draw attention to himself at every opportunity. Such an attitude does not befit the office of head of the world’s third largest fire and rescue service. His remarks about this woman were disgraceful. If an ordinary firefighter had said such a thing to a female colleague, he would almost certainly have been facing disciplinary action. Just this morning, my colleagues and I gained entry to the house of an 83 year old woman who had left her keys inside. Perhaps Mr Coleman would recommend we also charge her for being a dizzy airhead. I wonder if this is the kind of thing Boris Johnson had in mind when he appointed Mr Coleman to office.”
Straight8
Having met Lynn Featherstone and her glory seeking publicity circus at a couple of incidents in Harringey, I'd have to agree with Uncle Brian to a certain extent.
This is the woman who does'nt know the difference between the Police and the councils own pretend Parks Constabulary, or between a Minicab and a Licensed London Taxi.
Straight8
Re: Coleman putting his foot in it
Blaze Bear wrote:
. If an ordinary firefighter had said such a thing to a female colleague, he would almost certainly have been facing disciplinary action.
Aye, and don't we know it.
Smoke Dodger
hopefully Mad Boris will get rid of this waste of public money, and thoroughly nasty "man".
Blaze Bear
GBC wrote:
Having met Lynn Featherstone and her glory seeking publicity circus at a couple of incidents in Harringey, I'd have to agree with Uncle Brian to a certain extent.
Haven't met or heard of her but her quote is correct, I had a boiler once that vented gas/air from the top once. As I don't know anything about boilers and the vented mixture small like gas to me I got my family out straight away (in bed clothes) and went next door. Luckily the neighbour was a plumber and he new it was fine with a window open for a while, but the thing was I didn't and if he wasn't there I probably would have called the brigade out.
So in my view this woman councillor was RIGHT and Coleman should be disciplined for the remarks he said.
Strings
Coleman is a horrible nastey peice of work and the sooner he goes the better for all of us! He obviously has a serious dislike towards Firefighters and wants everyone to know it.
I hope the poisoned dwarf gets what he deserves.
I wonder who he'd call if his house was alight???!!!
darragh999
Why do we have people in charge of us that clearly do not care for us (one will choose my words for i know forums like this are checked)
ok i am stupid to think we matter
but this bloke is a disgrace,word is whatever he wants the beds ,some fireman/women? must have wronged him ,the worst thing is that we know its coming and i do not think that after the last strike (lets face it as the kids say we was rinsed (SORRY 4 THE SPELLING)
there is enough fight
For me i will fight,my family is more important than some tory boy vendettea,sorry i think this is the only place left to vent ,god forbid doing round the mess table
Smoke Dodger
Horrible Man!!![/img]
Blaze Bear
Smoke Dodger wrote:
Horrible Man!!![/img]
Which ones which?
Straight8
Strings wrote:
I wonder who he'd call if his house was alight???!!!
He'd call us at his super duper local Fire Station.
I think Brians a bit misunderstood by some.
Strings
GBC wrote:
Strings wrote:
I wonder who he'd call if his house was alight???!!!
He'd call us at his super duper local Fire Station.
I think Brians a bit misunderstood by some.
Sorry mate, you've lost me there?
Straight8
Obviously Southern Command.
I mean if Mr Coleman had an incident he would have us attend as he lives about 800 yards from the station . . . and a good neighbour he is too.
Strings
Sorry...I'm Western.
Now I understand. But he would be a nice neighbour...... he wouldn't want to directly pi$$ the people off that he'd have to call on would he! he just does it the way he knows best and that behind your backs. If you get what I mean.
