Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS), overseen by Labour mayoral candidate Andy Burnham, disciplined firefighters who publicly supported the Reform UK party, according to internal emails obtained by The Mail on Sunday. The messages urged staff to report colleagues and warned that such political activity could conflict with service values, despite no legal prohibition against firefighters engaging in politics. Critics have condemned the move as a chilling attack on free speech, with the Free Speech Union accusing Burnham of using institutional mechanisms to suppress opposition ahead of the upcoming Makerfield by-election.

The April email that turned colleagues into informants

In April, Carl Petch and Humaira Ahmed, joint heads of the GMFRS race and faith staff network, sent an email stating that the service was aware of staff representing Reform UK and that these individuals had been spoken to about exhibiting core values. As The Mail on Sunday reported, the message invited staff to report concerns about colleagues, effectively creating a whistleblowing culture targeting one political party. The Free Speech Union's founder, Toby Young, called the move 'chilling' and noted the lack of similar action against supporters of other parties — a conrast that undermines claims of even-handed workplace policy.

The email concluded that the service was seeking formal legal guidance, but no evidence of misconduct by Reform supporters was cited. The implication, Young argued, is that supporting Reform is morally suspect and a reputational risk to the institution. There is no legal prohibition on firefighters engaging in politics, unlike for police officers, making the disciplinary warnings particularly notable.

Why the Fire Brigades Union's £10,000 donation raises conflict-of-interest flags

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU), which represents many GMFRS staff, has endorsed Andy Burnham's campaign for the Makerfield by-election and previously donated £10,000 to his political ventures. This close relationship with the Labour leadership hopeful creates a potential conflict of interest when the same union is backing a mayor who holds ultimate governance responsibility over the fire service. According to the source, the FBU's endorsement adds a layer of perceived bias, given that it is the governing Labour figure's supporters — not opponents — who are now being disciplined.

The firefighter-councillor who won his seat for Reform expressed fear about his career progression now that party supporters are being singled out. He rejected the notion that his political stance could compromise safety or inclusivity, calling the suggestion ridiculous. The FBU did not respond to requests for comment, leaving the union's role in this controversy partially unexamined.

Andy Burnham’s dual role: mayor, fire commissioner, and by-election candidate

Andy Burnham currently serves as Mayor of Greater Manchester, which gives him authority as fire commissioner over GMFRS. He is also the Labour candidate in the July Makerfield by-election — a contest where Reform UK is polling as the only party positioned to defeat him, according to the report. This dual political–institutional role raises fundamental questions about impartiality: can a candidate who governs the fire service objectively oversee the treatment of political opponents within that service?

The Free Speech Union has written to Burnham, arguing that his governance permits the demonization of political opposition and violates the impartiality required of a public office-holder. The timing of the email — sent months before a byelection where Reform is a direct threat — amplifies concerns that institutional power is being used to suppress dissenting views.

What Reform UK supporters face: career fears and no legal ban

Unlike police officers, who are legally restricted from political activity, firefighters face no such statutory ban. Yet the emails obtained by The Mail on Sunday show that GMFRS management warned Reform supporters that their actions conflict with service values. The firefighter-councillor who won his seat for Reform said the email was an attack on his integrity, fueled by a culture created by Burnham. Without clear evidence of misconduct, the disciplinary approach appears to be a value-based judgment, not a neutral enforcement of rules.

The incident leaves unanswered questions: Were supporters of other parties — including Labour, the Conservatives, or the Liberal Democrats — given similar warnings? What specific behaviour, if any, constituted a breach of professional behaviour? And will the FBU's endorsement of Burnham affect how it represents members who are disciplined for political views? The source does not address these points, leaving a significant gap in the picture of impartial governance.