Fire cuts: opponents back down
Rebel members of London's fire authority are set to back down in their battle with Boris Johnson over cuts.
Latest ITV News reports
Boris wins fire service cuts battle
Boris Johnson has won the battle over the future of London's Fire Service.
The organisation in charge of the service had voted to defy the Mayor, but today it backed down in the face of his threat to take it to court.
We have this report from our Political Correspondent Simon Harris:
Boris Johnson pushes through fire service cuts
London's Mayor looks to have won the battle over the future of London's fire service.
The organisation in charge of the it had voted to defy the mayor but, today it backed down in the face of his threat to take it to court.
Political Correspondent Simon Harris has more.
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Boris wins battle over fire cuts
by Simon Harris, Political CorrespondentBoris Johnson appears to have won his battle over control of London's fire service.
Opposition politicians on the fire authority have backed down in a fight over cuts after the Mayor threatened to sue.
In the Labour amendment, they said that they conceded to the Mayor on this occasion with great reluctance.
Fire authority rebels set to back down
by Simon Harris, Political CorrespondentRebel members of London's fire authority are set to back down in their battle with Boris Johnson over cuts.
Labour has submitted a motion to the LFEPA (London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority) Urgency Committee meeting now agreeing to obey a mayoral directive.
The Labour amendment says it is not in Londoners' interests to spend financial resources on litigation.
Fire stations threatened with closure
Under Boris Johnson's plans, the following 12 fire stations would be closed:
Belsize
Bow
Clapham
Clerkenwell
Downham
Kingsland
Knightsbridge
New Cross
Silvertown
Southwark
Westminster
Woolwich
Simon Harris on Boris's battle with the fire authority
by Simon Harris, Political Correspondent
Boris Johnson's battle with rebel members of London's fire authority is likely to come to a head today.
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Meeting on plan for cuts to fire service
The London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority (LFEPA) is meeting today to decide its next step in its dispute with Boris Johnson over fire station closures.
The Mayor wants to close 12 fire stations and get rid of 18 fire engines, a plan that LFEPA voted against at their last meeting.
Boris Johnson has said the Authority could face legal action, and he had given them until today to back down.
The Authority has three options: they can continue to defy the Mayor and face a judicial review, accept the plans and see services cut or push for an amended public consultation process.
The Mayor's Office has said it's essential that the fire service continues to modernise. The service needs to save £45m over the next two years.