Firefighters will strike for 24 hours this week as the long-running pension dispute continues.

The latest strike action, which will run for 24 hours from 7am on Wednesday (February 25), comes after the 2015 firefighters' pension scheme legislation was voted through by MPs when Westminster fire minister Penny Mordaunt gave a guarantee that firefighters aged 55 who failed a fitness test through no fault of their own would receive a full, unreduced pension or a redeployed role. This was also confirmed by Eric Pickles, secretary of state for communities and local government.

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) found, however, that when they asked all fire authorities if they would implement this, many stated they would not.

London Fire Brigade confirmed that they had legal advice which showed why they could not implement the guarantee.

Matt Wrack, FBU general secretary, said: “It is clear that when Penny Mordaunt gave the guarantee in Parliament she would have been aware that no fire authority ever planned to implement the ‘guarantee’.

“In order to win the vote to pass the flawed firefighters' pension regulations Penny Mordaunt misled firefighters and Parliament.

“The minister is still writing to firefighters telling them they have the guarantee when she clearly knows that they do not.

“Firefighters are unbelievably angry with the disgraceful actions of this government.

“Since the debate where the guarantee was given, the FBU has written to Penny Mordaunt asking for an explanation and meeting to clear this up once and for all. The fire minister has simply ignored these requests and refused to meet the FBU in order to resolve this dispute.

“Firefighters still face the choice of either being sacked or receiving a severely reduced pension if they fail fitness tests as a result of naturally declining fitness through age. Exactly the opposite of what the minister told Parliament.”

Firefighters across England will be taking part in the strike.

A rally and protest will take part from noon at Methodist Central Hall, Storeys Gate, London SW1 9NH.