The deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has said the government will not “consider sending in the army” to help deal with the Birmingham bin strike.
On Monday Birmingham City Council declared a major incident that more than 17,000 tonnes of rubbish have been piled high on the streets in England second largest city.
Former government minister Edwina Curry said the government should bring in the army now before this becomes a serious health risk to the public.
Speaking to GB News Curry said, “I tell you what I’d do now. I’d have a quick word with the Secretary of State for Defence and I’d get the army in.
“And it wouldn’t be the first time the army has been deployed in similar circumstances. In 1970, there was a bin strike in London and the army was called in to clear the rubbish from the streets.”
She added, “It’s a public health issue. It’s not just politics, it’s a public health issue. With rats and rubbish, really you’re talking about spreading disease. You’re talking about spreading serious diseases.”
GB News asked Rayner if the army will be bought in to deal with mountains of rubbish in Birmingham.
Rayner said, “We are monitoring the situation closely. The response is locally led. We wouldn’t consider sending in the army.”
Sir Keir Starmer’s official spokesperson said this crisis is “unacceptable” and the government is “monitoring the situation and working with the council,” adding the are “not aware the army is an option.”
Rayner who is also the Housing Secretary told BBC Radio 2, “The bin collection in Birmingham is a wider and bigger issue, because under the previous government, Birmingham council went bust.
“We’ve given Birmingham extra cash to support the difficult circumstances that they’re in and they’re taking action to tackle the longstanding equal pay claims that Birmingham council had.
“And they had over 10 years of austerity, they saw significant sums, billions of pounds, taken out of their budget and were not able to provide the most necessary of services.
“So we’re taking action to put local government on a better financial stabilisation after the 14 years of disaster that we’ve had.”
