WIRRAL's Conservative group leader has rejected claims that his party was forced into 'an embarrassing u-turn' and backed a Labour notice of motion condemning Government cuts to the fire service.

The accusation was made by senior Labour councillors after a dire warning from Merseyside's most senior firefighter during a meeting of the full council on Monday night.

Chief Fire Officer Dan Stephens warned of the impact on operations of continued budget cuts on the service.

The council then unanimously supported a motion calling on the Government to stop any further cuts and invest in the service.

Labour cllr Brian Kenny said: "The Tories are taking risks with Wirral residents' safety in the name of austerity.

"This Government doesn't listen to its own Tory Councillors so its time they listened to Labour and local residents and stop the cuts to our Fire and Rescue Service.”

Liscard Labour councillor Janette Williamson, an avid campaigner in support of Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, added: "Wirral Conservatives have now heard the anger local residents feel about continued cuts to the Fire Service.

"They failed to persuade the Home Secretary to take appropriate action during her visit last month, and in what must be an embarrassing political U-turn were last night forced to back Labour's condemnation of their own Government."

Conservative group leader Ian Lewis told the Globe: "It seems some of Wirral's Labour councillors have been asleep on the job.

"It was back in February when all parties on the Fire Authority – Conservative, Liberal Democrat and Labour – passed the budget for the fire authority.

"If Labour wants to know why there isn't enough money, they can look no further than the £431 million that is being wasted on their failed regional fire control centres.

"Most people are getting wise to Labour councillors popping up before an election with the usual tired old scare stories."