Labour is calling in the Army in a bid to clear Birmingham's rubbish crisis after more than a month of strikes.
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has invoked powers known as Military Aid to the Civil Authorities (Maca) to enlist Army experts after a strike by bin workers following a council dispute has left over 17,000 tons of waste in the second city's streets.
A small number of military personnel with operational planning expertise are said to be offering specialised logistical support to tackle the crisis - which started on March 11.
And sources told The Telegraph that there are contingency plans in place to increase the number of personnel involved if necessary.
Angela Rayner has invoked powers to bring in Army experts in a bid to address the situation
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Some 17,000 tons of waste now lines the second city's streets
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One Government source told the newspaper that the Army will be in place for a "short, time-limited period to support the council with making sure its response to the ongoing public health risk is as swift as possible".
And a Whitehall source stressed that the soldiers on the ground will not be out litter-picking - and will instead take on office-based administrative roles to stem the chaos.
But it follows former Army chief Lord Dannatt's warning that involving the military will not come cheap.
"We are the nation's reserve pool of trained manpower and will do whatever the Government of the day decides," he said.
"But it is not a cheap option. If saving life is not involved, the Ministry of Defence will charge whichever Department of State had requested help - and we charge at full rates."
LATEST ON THE BIRMINGHAM BIN STRIKES:
The Deputy Prime Minister has stepped in to clear 17,000 tons of waste in the second city's streets
PAWhile ex-Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said: "The very idea that we need to call in the British Army to clean up rubbish on our streets is nothing short of appalling. It's a damning indictment of Labour's total failure to govern effectively in Birmingham.
"This crisis is not the result of an unforeseen emergency, but of chronic mismanagement and a Labour council beholden to their union paymasters. Residents are now facing a mounting public health emergency, while the council dithers and the unions dig in.
"The Armed Forces are there to protect the nation in times of true need - not to bail out politicians who can't even keep the bins collected. Labour need to get a grip, stop the excuses, and sort this mess out."
'First and foremost, the rubbish needs clearing and the rats need killing,' Nigel Farage said
PAAnd Reform UK boss Nigel Farage said: "First and foremost, the rubbish needs clearing and the rats need killing because it's a public health hazard of extraordinary proportions and it bodes very badly for Labour in the local elections.
"The fact that the Army has had to be called in doesn't say much for Labour’s ability to negotiate."
Rayner had failed to secure a deal with Union chiefs last week - and when requesting help under the Maca rules, military aid must only be invoked as a matter of last resort if civil authorities cannot deal with a problem.
And she has urged striking bin workers to settle with the council - with a ballot on a "partial deal" set to be held on Monday.
