The Birmingham bin strike has become a public health emergency — and it’s time Labour started treating it like one. Birmingham is a proud city, resilient in the face of adversity. But under Labour’s leadership, that spirit is being crushed. Streets are strewn with bin bags, rats the size of cats roam freely, and residents are being forced to live in filth. Labour is putting picketers before people — a grim preview of what a Labour government would look like across the country.

The council, bankrupted by reckless Labour councillors, has let council tax soar while basic services collapse. Now, Labour ministers refuse to confront the union bosses who are holding the city to ransom. Yes, this is a strike about refuse collection — but Labour is taking the word refuse far too literally. They refuse to take responsibility. They refuse to act. And they refuse to stand up for Birmingham’s residents.

This is a perfect storm — manufactured entirely by Labour — and a cautionary tale for the rest of Britain. Birmingham is a warning of what Labour would do to every local authority in the UK if given the chance. You can help stop this on May 1.

Instead of taking action, Labour ministers deflect blame. Under Keir Starmer, it’s never their fault. First, they blamed the Conservatives for an imaginary black hole. Then, it was the regulators. Then, “global headwinds.” But there’s one constant in all these crises: Labour.

This bin strike is no different. It’s the product of a bankrupt Labour-run council, in a Labour stronghold, empowered by unions who fund the Labour Party — all while Labour ministers look the other way.

For readers of the Express, this is the shortest whodunnit in history. Yet Labour continues with its head buried in the sand.

The UK Health Security Agency — which we established to safeguard public health — has now raised the alarm. This is no longer just a local issue; it’s a national risk. I have written to the Health Secretary demanding clarity on the scale of the crisis, but have received nothing in return. So much for “working in the national interest”.

Diseases like rat-bite fever, Weil’s disease and Ricketts are no longer distant threats — they’re real, and they’re on Birmingham’s doorstep.

Forget taking us back to the 1970s — this Labour government is dragging Birmingham back to the Victorian era.

It’s now fallen to neighbouring Conservative councils, like Lichfield, to step in and help clean Birmingham’s streets. Where Labour fails, Conservatives step up — cleaning up their mess and protecting the public.

Nationally, Conservatives have proposed pragmatic solutions — including the use of temporary workers to help restore order. But Labour won’t listen. Why? Because they’re too afraid to challenge the unions.

Since Starmer took over, unions have funnelled over £30 million into Labour’s coffers. Unite — the very union behind this strike — even handed Angela Rayner £10,000 personally. No wonder she’s remained silent. She should return the money immediately.

Keir Starmer promised he would put country before party. If there was ever a time to do just that, it’s now. This is a public health crisis.

Sadly, it looks like that promise — like so many others — has been broken. And it’s the people of Birmingham who are paying the price.