Unite and take over the underground. I was joined on my carriage today by thirty striking firemen (no, that's not a gay phrase, it's the firefighter strike, if you didn't know), and I was nearly sick. I bet you the only person to have seen so many firemen at the same time is Ulrika Jonsson (if you don't get it, don't worry, it's a bad joke anyway).

Really, do they deserve a 40% pay rise? I think not. They're paid handsomely enough as it is - I'd take £22,500 per year if it was handed to me. And I mean ok, their job may be high risk and all this nonsense, but they choose to do it. They knew how much they were being paid. And, although I don't know all the ins and outs of the business, I don't imagine they're worked nearly as hard as the majority of other professions. In a news story the day of the strike, one brigade was called out once all day. Once. Money for nothing, I tell you. So, I think over £400 per week is a fair sum.

The worst thing about it is the fact they've been offered a very impressive (in my view) pay rise of 11% over two years - 4% this year and 7% next year. But no, this isn't enough for the moneygrabbers. They'll see people die in fires simply to line their own pockets and to "prove a point". What next? Hospitals on strike? No police on the streets?

It's very disturbing, and I hope the government stand firm.