Firefighter who supported Brexit and was expelled from his union as a result received an £8,300 payment from his employers after they went on a “witch hunt” to get rid of him.
In 2019, Paul Embery intervened at a demonstration to demand that Brexit be carried through entirely, even if it meant leaving the EU without an agreement.
The general secretary of the Fire Brigade Union, Matt Wrack, afterwards referred to him as a “disgrace to the traditions of the labour movement.”
In the wake of what an employment tribunal has since determined to be a “witch hunt,” Mr. Embery was sacked from his job after being suspended for allegedly criticising the union’s stance in favour of Brexit.
The panel determined that Mr. Embery, who is now a presenter on GB News, was being removed as part of a “agenda,” and it ordered the FBU to pay him £8,308 in damages for his wrongful termination.
He began working with the London Fire Brigade on November 24, 1997, and was chosen to serve as the FBU’s regional official in 2008.
The tribunal was informed that he had been vocal about his opinions on Brexit for many years and that his employers were aware of his speaking engagements on the subject.
He supported quitting the European Union because he valued national independence, it was revealed throughout the session.
Given that he was the National Organiser for Trade Unions Against the EU, his employers were aware of this.
Mr. Embery gave multiple media interviews and penned articles regarding the Brexit Referendum when the Conservative Government announced its holding in 2015.
Although the FBU favoured Remain, the tribunal learned that it was dedicated to enabling members to voice other political viewpoints.
Three months after the vote, in September 2016, Mr. Embery sent Mr. Wrack an email to let him know he would be speaking at the Labour Party Conference on “Why Brexit must mean Brexit.”
General Secretary reportedly thanked him for informing him and expressed excitement to meet him at the conference.
The FBU President, Ian Murray, reportedly phoned Mr. Embery and instructed him to make it clear that he was not speaking for the Union at the event, which he did.
The hearing was informed in January 2019 that Mr. Wrack and Mr. Embery were at odds over Brexit and that “feelings were running hot.”
A few months later, Mr. Embery received an invitation to speak at the Leave Means Leave demonstration in Parliament Square. Mr. Murray counselled him against going since it could go against FBU policy prohibiting officials from working with political opponents to promote for the Referendum.
Mr. Embery attended the gathering despite believing that because the Referendum was finished, this didn’t apply.
He urged the country to go on after the referendum and, if necessary, to have a “No Deal” Brexit at the gathering.
After his appearance, the union suspended him, and an inquiry led to a two-year suspension from office.
The Employment Judge Robin Postle-presiding tribunal determined that this constituted an unjust dismissal since the regulation he was alleged to have violated could no longer be in effect three years after the Referendum.
It declared: “That obviously is ridiculous since the Referendum had voted to leave Europe.”
(The probe) only seemed to be a witch hunt or a fishing expedition.
“Given the hostility between the Union leadership and the Tribunal, the Tribunal felt that (the probe) was pre-determined” (Mr Embery).
Once again, reading the meeting’s transcript reveals that he did not criticise the FBU.
What he does is argue for continuing on after the referendum and, if necessary, implementing a “No Deal” Brexit.
“As a result, (Mr. Embery) was essentially fired.” Where is the flagrant wrongdoing? How could any impartial member have a justifiable belief based on the evidence that the claimant had engaged in any kind of misconduct?