APPG for Fire Safety and Rescue
The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Fire Safety and Rescue is a cross-party group of UK parliamentarians dedicated to improving fire safety standards and supporting the fire and rescue services across the country.
Formed to promote awareness, influence policy, and encourage best practice in fire prevention and response, the group brings together Members of the House of Commons and the House of Lords from all political backgrounds. It also works closely with experts, fire professionals, industry leaders, and community representatives.
What We Do
The APPG for Fire Safety and Rescue works to:
- Raise awareness of key fire safety challenges and risks facing the UK.
- Promote effective legislation and regulation to enhance fire safety in homes, workplaces, and public buildings.
- Support the fire and rescue services, advocating for their resources, training, and well-being.
- Host regular meetings and briefings, inviting input from fire chiefs, safety professionals, government bodies, and the public.
- Publish reports and recommendations to inform and guide parliamentary debate and policy decisions.
Through constructive dialogue and evidence-based inquiry, the group aims to prevent tragedies, improve safety standards, and champion innovation and resilience in fire safety practices.
Chair & Officers
Bob Blackman
Robert Blackman (born 1956) is the Conservative MP for Harrow East, first elected in 2010 and re-elected at every subsequent general election, including 2024 when he was notably the only Conservative candidate to secure over 50% of the vote in their constituency. Before entering Parliament, he had a career in sales and management with Burroughs Machines and BT, served on Brent London Borough Council for over two decades including as council leader, and briefly held a seat on the London Assembly for Brent and Harrow from 2004 to 2008. He served as Joint Executive Secretary of the backbench 1922 Committee from 2012 to 2024, before being elected its chairman in 2024, and currently also chairs the Backbench Business Committee. His most notable parliamentary achievement was steering the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 into law via a Private Member’s Bill.
Baroness Brinton
Sal Brinton, Baroness Brinton (born 1955), is the daughter of former Conservative MP Tim Brinton and was educated at Benenden School and Churchill College, Cambridge; she began her career as a BBC television floor manager before serving as bursar at two Cambridge colleges and holding regional roles including Deputy Chair of the East of England Development Agency. A Liberal Democrat peer since February 2011, she served as President of the Liberal Democrats from 2015 to 2020, and briefly served as acting co-leader alongside Sir Ed Davey following Jo Swinson’s loss of her seat at the 2019 general election. She is a member of the Liberal Democrat Federal Policy Committee and has championed diversity within the party, particularly increasing representation of women and minority ethnic MPs, whilst also contributing to the All Party Stalking Inquiry of 2011. Brinton has rheumatoid arthritis and typically uses a wheelchair, and holds honorary fellowships and trusteeships with several charitable and educational organisations.
Lord Hendy
John Hendy, Baron Hendy (born 1948), was educated at Latymer Upper School and comes from a working-class trade union background, despite maternal aristocratic connections; his father was a communist electrician and trade unionist, and his younger brother Peter Hendy is a current Minister of State for Rail. He built a distinguished legal career as a barrister specialising in employment and trade union law, taking silk in 1987 and serving as head of Old Square Chambers from 1999 to 2009, while representing major unions including the NUM during the 1984–85 miners’ strike, the NUJ at the Leveson Inquiry, and the families of victims of the Ladbroke Grove and Southall rail disasters. Nominated by Jeremy Corbyn in the 2019 Prime Minister’s Resignation Honours, he was created a Labour life peer as Baron Hendy of Hayes and Harlington, making his maiden speech in October 2019 during Lords consideration of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry’s Phase 1 Report. He holds an Honorary Professorship of Labour Law at UCL and has throughout his career been a prominent advocate for trade union rights and workers’ protections.
Elaine Stewart
Elaine Stewart MP was elected to Parliament in July 2024 as the Member of Parliament for Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock. Prior to entering Parliament, she built a strong background in community engagement and public service, with over 30 years’ experience working across the third sector and local community initiatives. She also served as a councillor in East Ayrshire, representing the Doon Valley ward.
Since entering Parliament, she has taken on responsibilities including membership of the Scottish Affairs Committee, contributing to scrutiny of issues affecting Scotland and the wider UK. In May 2026, she was appointed as a Parliamentary Private Secretary in the Department for Work and Pensions, further strengthening her experience in government and policy delivery.
As an Officer of the APPG on Fire Safety and Rescue, she brings a strong community-focused perspective to fire safety policy, with particular insight into local resilience, prevention, and the impact of public safety issues on communities.
Members
The full cross-party membership of the APPG for Fire Safety and Rescue.
Ann Davies
Apsana Begum
Baroness Blackstone
Baroness Grey-Thompson
Chris Webb
Dave Robertson
Helena Dollimore
Iqbal Mohamed
Jim Shannon
Joe Powell
Kim Johnson
Lord Knight of Weymouth
Lord Naseby
Mary Kelly Foy
Mary Glindon
Rachael Maskell
Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown
Lord Porter of Spalding
Sarah Hall
Andy MacNae
Meetings & Contact
Next meeting: TBC — to be confirmed.
Chair: Bob Blackman MP.
Secretariat / public enquiry point: Professor Steve McGuirk CBE, Secretary to the APPG — [email protected].
Secretariat & Funding
The Secretary to the Group is Professor Steve McGuirk CBE (contact details above), who undertakes the role on a pro bono basis and is accountable in that capacity to the Group’s Chair and parliamentary officers. The policy, priorities, decisions and activities of the APPG remain solely under the control of its parliamentary members. The Fire Sector Confederation, of which Professor McGuirk is Executive Director, provides limited practical support, including hosting the APPG’s webpages and meeting certain administrative and travel costs associated with his work for the Group. This support is provided without conferring any control over the APPG’s policy or activities. The Group also maintains a small bank balance, controlled by its parliamentary officers, which is used solely to meet incidental expenses such as refreshments and meeting costs. Details of any registrable financial or in-kind support are included in the Parliamentary Register of All-Party Parliamentary Groups and in the Group’s annual income and expenditure statement.
Documents
Meeting Readouts & Briefing Notes (2)
- Meeting 17th March 2026
Strategic discussion with the Minister on the post-Grenfell fire and building safety reform
- Meeting 15th June 2026
The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Fire & Rescue met on 15 June 2026 with Lord Andrew Roe, Chair of the Building Safety Regulator (BSR), and Charlie Pugsley, Acting Chief Executive of the BSR.
Ministerial Correspondence (4)
- Letter from Minster 3rd August
Consultation on new College for Fire and rescue
- Letter from Minister 22nd May 2026
Letter from Minster regarding fire safety in new schools
- Letter to Minister 15th June
Follow Up to previous meeting
- FRA Response
Letter to Minister re FRA
Supporting Documents (7)
- Leasehold High Rise Blocks: Who pays for safety work?
- Remediation of Dangerous Cladding Report
- Grenfell Tower Inquiry Report Phase 1 Overview
- Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 report
- EvacChair - Whitepaper - Risky Business
- Summary of APPG on Fire Safety & Rescue – Annual Report 2024–2025
- Grenfell and Building Safety Inquiry: Findings and Recommendations
Weekly Briefings (2)
This is not an official website of the House of Commons or the House of Lords. It has not been approved by either House or its committees. All-Party Parliamentary Groups are informal groups of Members of both Houses with a common interest in particular issues. The views expressed on these webpages are those of the group.
Portraits © UK Parliament, licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0.
