Firefighters work a 48-hour week, including two 15-hour night shifts. At £21,000 a year, this works out at £8.41 an hour.

Lord McLean suggests this should be reduced during periods when there are no emergencies.

John Prescott earns more than £90,000 a year and can't get out of bed to resolve a dispute the Government insists is endangering lives.

No wonder it's called the Rock 'n' Roll Loony Party.

-Ruth Arundell, Tillstone Street, Brighton