Andy Burnham accused of 'chilling' attack on free speech as his firefighters are warned over their backing for Reform UK

Published: 23:14, 6 June 2026 | Updated: 23:16, 6 June 2026 Firefighters who support Reform UK have been cautioned over their views by bosses under the command of Labour leadership hopeful Andy Burnham. Senior figures at Manchester's Fire and Rescue Service said they have had words with employees who backed the party, saying it was a cause for 'concern'. And in an Orwellian move described as a 'chilling' attack on free speech, staff were also urged to inform on any Reform-supporting colleagues. Bosses also said they were seeking legal advice on what to do about firefighters who decided to stand on a Reform ticket in last month's local elections. As the city's mayor, Labour leadership hopeful Mr Burnham is also Manchester fire commissioner, responsible for governing the service. And polling suggests that Reform is the only party that can stop him winning this month's Makerfield by-election, which would be a springboard for him toppling Sir Keir Starmer. Unlike police officers, there is no legal bar on firefighters taking part in national or local politics. Nonetheless, those who stood for Reform in May's elections were 'spoken to' by brigade bosses. The intervention was revealed in an email sent to members of the fire service by Carl Petch and Humaira Ahmed, the joint heads of the service's 'race and faith staff network'. Free Speech Union founder Toby Young said the email 'will create a chilling effect on the free speech of employees who support Reform', while one firefighter who won his council seat for Reform said he now feared for his promotion prospects if party supporters were being singled out. Andy Burnham makes a speech at the launch of his campaign as Labour's candidate for the Makerfield by-election Greater Manchester firefighters who support Reform have been cautioned over their views by bosses. Pictured is the party's leader, Nigel Farage  In the email, sent in April and seen by The Mail on Sunday, Mr Petch and Ms Ahmed said they were 'reaching out... [to] provide some clarity and reassurance regarding some recent activity we've seen within the organisation'. They wrote: 'We are aware that some staff members have chosen to represent Reform UK in their local areas. We know this may cause concern within our network and wider. 'The individuals involved have been spoken to, to make it clear that as members of GMFRS (Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service) our core values and professional behaviours must be displayed at all times. 'The service is currently seeking formal legal guidance... to ensure we are protected from all perspectives and that our inclusive culture remains safe. Our priority is and always will be ensuring that every member of this network feels supported, respected and safe at work.' The email concluded by effectively inviting employees to inform on their colleagues, saying: 'If you have any personal concerns, or feel impacted by this, please don't hesitate to reach out to me directly.' The pair also said they would be consulting the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) over the matter. Last week, the union formally endorsed Mr Burnham's bid for Makerfield, having previously contributed £10,000 to help bolster his political ambitions. Last night, Lord Young said the 'clear implication' of the email was that 'representing Reform UK constitutes an inherent threat to the institution's culture and values and is to be treated as morally suspect' – and pointed out that there had been no action about firefighters supporting other political parties. In a letter sent to Mr Burnham and copied to Dave Russel, Manchester's chief fire officer, the Free Speech Union director added: 'Staff are further invited to report colleagues who support any groups that go against the service's values, which effectively amounts to an instruction to inform on colleagues for their political beliefs. The email will create a chilling effect on the free speech of GMFRS employees who support Reform. Mr Burnham pictured before speaking to the media outside a pub in Wigan ahead of the June 18 Makerfield by-election 'The practical effect is that a public fire and rescue service governed by you is treating the lawful political activity of your electoral opponents as a reputational risk to their employer. 'Regardless of whether this reflects your instruction, it reflects your governance; and a public office-holder who permits his institution to demonise or chill the speech and political activity of those who support his principal electoral rival cannot claim to be discharging that office with the impartiality it demands.' The firefighter who became a Reform councillor last month told the MoS that the email was the result of 'the culture which Burnham has created in the service'. He said it had called his 'integrity into question' and 'ridiculously suggests that my supporting Reform has in some way made my colleagues feel unsafe'. He added: 'It also places a question mark over my promotion prospects, because all of the members of the panel which decides that will have received the email.' Tony Greenhalgh, the chairman of Stockport Reform and a former chairman of the regional branch of the FBU, said: 'Firefighting is a difficult and dangerous job, and this kind of identity politics causes a breakdown in the team ethos. 'If Burnham becomes Prime Minister this sort of thing will become turbocharged. 'It undermines trust in the fire service, at a time when the public are already increasingly concerned about public services.' Fire service bosses warned staff: 'We are aware that some staff members have chosen to represent Reform UK... we know this may cause concern within our network and wider. The individuals have been spoken to' The union said it was endorsing Mr Burnham's campaign for the Makerfield by-election on June 18 on the grounds he 'has shown consistent solidarity and support for firefighters and the FBU'. In his letter, Lord Young asks Mr Burnham 'what steps you have taken or intend to take to ensure that GMFRS staff who represent or support Reform UK suffer no disadvantage in consequence; whether GMFRS will withdraw or formally repudiate the email's implication that such activity is contrary to the service's values; and whether you will issue guidance to GMFRS management making clear that lawful political activity by staff in their personal capacity is not a matter for institutional intervention.' A spokeswoman for Mr Burnham declined to comment. A spokesman for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said that the service was 'politically neutral'. They said: 'All members of staff are entitled to be members of, stand as candidates for, or serve as elected representatives of mainstream political parties. Fire service staff have stood for election across the political spectrum. 'Where a member of staff seeks elected office, it is standard practice for managers to provide guidance on maintaining political neutrality in the workplace and avoiding any perceived conflict of interest.' The comments below have not been moderated. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. 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