'Offensive' Coleman caricature banned from London fire stations

4:12pm Tuesday 25th August 2009

By Rebecca Lowe

"OFFENSIVE" cartoon posters critical of London Fire Authority chairman Brian Coleman have been ripped down from fire stations across London.

The poster, devised by London Fire Brigades' Union (FBU) to encourage members to vote for industrial action, shows the Mayor of Barnet wearing a large gold medallion and dropping money down the drain.

It was banned from all London fire stations last Friday after London Fire Brigade (LFB) managers deemed it to be "offensive", "inappropriate" and a safety risk.

In a message to the London FBU, LFB director of fire and community safety Roy Bishop wrote: "Notice boards have been provided for the FBU and other recognised trade unions in order to facilitate the unions’ proper communications with their members about trade union issues.

"Management does not seek to interfere with proper trade union communications. However, management does not authorise displaying documents or posters on the notice boards that it reasonably deems to be inappropriate or offensive, as we work to provide a dignified and safe workplace for all."

Paul Embery, FBU London regional official, slammed LFB bosses for banning the poster.

He said: "Brian Coleman has been banging on at us for years for the need for cut backs, efficiency savings and for us all to tighten our belts, but he's been ripping off the taxpayer the whole time.

"We can't believe managers tried to ban us from making our opinions known. He is a public official and he has to be subjected to a degree of scrutiny and judgement from time to time.

"They are just trying to intimidate us into ripping them down, but firemen are not easily intimidated.

"If we see someone guilty of this sort of hypocrisy, I don't see why we should suppress it."

The poster was designed to encourage union members to vote in the August 6 ballot for industrial action over tax conditions. A majority voted in favour and the action began on August 13.

In the poster, the taxi cab refers to Mr Coleman's excessive fares. He claimed £1,946 last year, £8,000 in 2007 to 2008 and £10,000 the year before – more than the other 24 members put together.

As chairman of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority (LFEPA), Mr Coleman also claimed nearly £400 from brigade funds for a single taxi journey to attend the Lord Mayor's banquet in November 2008.

The hamper in the picture refers to a £350 Harvey Nichols basket sent by AssetCo to Mr Coleman in June after the company was awarded a LFEPA contract to provide emergency cover Brigade.