Mr McGuirk said his cuts had improved the fire service Merseyside’s chief fire officer has apologised for claiming that some workers in the public sector are “bone idle”.
Tony McGuirk had told a seminar run by an independent think tank that sick leave had become an “epidemic”.
His comments, in which he told bosses to show “muscle, sack some people”, drew criticism from unions.
Now, Mr McGuirk has said “in hindsight” he used language which he now “regrets”.
He had launched the attack at the discussion run by Reform, a think tank which focuses on public services. He said during his time as chief officer, the number of firefighters at Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service had been cut from 1,550 to 850.
He said the 40% reduction had not had a detrimental effect on the service, but had actually improved it.
However, Mark Dunne, chairman of Merseyside Fire Brigade Union (FBU), said his remarks were the latest in a long line of “inappropriate comments”.
“I am passionate in defending our service and in hindsight I used language which I now regret”
Chief fire officer Tony McGuirk Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service
“To criticise the public sector in such a way – when he has done so well out if with a £200,000 salary and a £500,000 pension – is highly hypocritical.
“We have received dozens of e-mails from people within the NHS and other public sectors bodies expressing their disgust at his speech.
“The majority of us work in the public sector because we believe in it and we understand that we are providing an essential service.”
In his latest statement, Mr McGuirk, who became chief officer of Merseyside in 2002, sought to explain what he tried to convey.
It said: “Much of what I said about public services explained how on Merseyside we had managed to deliver a better service despite extensive government budget cuts and less staff, and this was a model that other parts of public service could follow.
“Many other public organisations are already claiming they cannot make similar reductions, and my concern that these services may be treated as special cases, led me to use inappropriate language.
“I am passionate in defending our service and in hindsight I used language which I now regret.
“I apologise if any staff are upset by my comments.”
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