LABOUR leader Keir Starmer has claimed Glaswegians are being put at risk by a "waste crisis". 

He said the SNP-run city was to blame for the levels of rubbish found in city streets.

In a rare intervention into Scottish politics, the Leader of the Opposition tweeted: "Glasgow's in a waste crisis after a failure of leadership from the SNP Council.

"Workers and communities have been left to live and work in unsafe conditions.

"The eyes of the world are on Glasgow - the Scottish Government must intervene to ensure the city is ready to host Cop26."

We told previously how people living in the west of the city have said litter and rubbish makes them want to avoid walking through the streets.

After the Glasgow Times was contacted by local people to complain about the sight and smell of the streets in the morning we took a walk along the streets.

We saw bin bags burst open, with rubbish spilling out, gutters and pavements strewn with discarded bottles, masks and fast food takeaway cartons, and overflowing bins can be seen all along Dumbarton Road and Sauchiehall Street heading towards Charing Cross.

A council spokesman at the time said: “Each year Glasgow spends around £100m on environmental protection with waste collection and disposal accounting for most of this budget.

“By head of population Glasgow spends twice the national average on street cleansing and our budget for street cleansing is year on year significantly greater than any comparable Scottish local authority.

“Unfortunately the covid pandemic does continue to have an impact on the delivery of services with staff required to self-isolate and restrictions still in place in relation to the use of vehicles.

“But we are using all available resources to ensure bins in public places are emptied on schedule and that street cleansing operations are as effective as possible.

“However in every instance in the pictures shared by the Glasgow Times, it is clear that members of the public have not disposed of their waste appropriately."

Glasgow city council was approached for further comment.