On 8 January 2026, Luke Myer MP called for fair funding for Cleveland Fire Brigade following a tragic house fire in Guisborough which claimed the life of an elderly resident earlier this week.

Raising the matter in the House of Commons, Luke paid tribute to the woman who died and to the brave firefighters who responded, and expressed condolences to her loved ones.

He noted that this was one of three serious fires locally in recent weeks, and relayed concerns from Cleveland firefighters and the Cleveland FBU that current national funding formulas fail to recognise higher levels of deprivation – unlike funding arrangements for councils and the NHS. Luke urged the Government to review the formula so that areas like Teesside are not disadvantaged, warning that firefighters needed the right resources to keep people safe and respond rapidly to emergencies.

Responding on behalf of the Government, the Leader of the House, Sir Alan Campbell, offered his sympathies and thanked emergency services for their response. He stated that forthcoming reforms following the fair funding review would take account of differing local needs, and encouraged Luke to continue to pursue the issue.

Luke Myer MP said:

“My thoughts are with the family and friends of the resident who tragically lost her life in Guisborough this week.

Cleveland Fire Brigade have faced a spate of serious incidents in recent weeks, and our firefighters are rightly raising concerns about how funding is allocated. Deprivation should be recognised in the formula, just as it is for councils and the NHS. I’ll keep pushing for a fair deal so our firefighters have the resources they need to protect our communities.”