The debate rages on over a proposed strike by the firefighters union FBU on Bonfire Night.

An initial eight-hour strike took place across London on Saturday and ended amid a raft of accusations and denials regarding intimidation of replacement crews.

Now, the union has outlined plan for a 47-hour walkout starting on November 5 - Bonfire Night - in response to shift changes for firefighters in the capital.

But Fire Minister Bob Neill said the action "puts Londoners' lives at risk".

"It's profoundly wrong and inappropriate to choose that particular time for the strike," he said.

"The government's stayed out of the details of the dispute, which is between the Fire Brigade's Union and their employers.

"But the timing of this particular strike I think is provocative. It's reckless. It actually puts Londoners' lives at risk in a needless way."

The FBU said the walkout would begin at 10am on November 5 and end at 9am on November 7 - the busiest period of the year for fire crews up and down the country.

Another eight-hour walkout will take place on November 1.

FBU general secretary Matt Wrack said: "We do not want to take this action but we have no choice.

"The alternative is to allow London’s firefighters to become doormats for their employers to walk on.

"The long-term safety of Londoners depends on a well-trained, self-confident firefighting force. The chair of the London Fire and emergency Planning Authority, Councillor Brian Coleman, issues calculated insults and says he’s ‘relaxed’ and sacking all of them.

"He and the Commissioner, Ron Dobson, want to run the London Fire Brigade as though it were a Victorian mill.

"They want a frightened and obedient firefighting force. We simply cannot accept that.

"There’s still nearly two weeks for the London Fire Brigade to get this right. Show a little respect for your firefighters. Meet their representatives and hammer out a compromise with us, instead of trying to get your way by bullying."

But what do you think? Are the firefighters right to strike? Or are their plans to walk out on November 5 simply putting lives at risk needlessly?

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