A Glasgow MP has issued a plea for help to Andy Burnham as parts of the city centre struggle to deal with "violence, open drug dealing and child exploitation".
Maureen Burke raised at Prime Minister's Questions today the recent BBC Disclosure documentary which lifted the lid on the extent of criminality regularly witnessed around Central station and St Enoch Square.
She warned that inaction from the City Council and years of underfunding by the SNP Government had allowed Reform UK to "exploit public safety fears and stoke racial division".
Urgent need for honest discussion
The BBC documentary was broadcast in August just days before long-serving council leader Susan Aitken formally stood down from her post.
Glasgow has also struggled to get to grips with a growing homelessness crisis, which is partly caused by a rising number of refugees seeking shelter in the city. A damning report by auditors last month warned the local authority could effectively go bust unless rising spending on temporary accommodation is dealt with.
Burke said there was now an urgent need for an "honest discussion" on the pressures facing the city centre.
MP's plea to Prime Minister
Speaking in the Commons, the Labour MP for Glasgow North East said: "A recent BBC Disclosure documentary exposed violence, open drug dealing, child exploitation, and a staggering 1,200 sexual offences recorded in Glasgow city centre in the year to March 2026.
"We must have an honest discussion about the city's pressures, including addiction, deprivation, immigration, and community cohesion.
"While SNP underfunding has crippled local public services, and Glasgow City Council's response has fallen short, Reform is exploiting public safety fears to stoke racial division in our welcoming city.
"Will the Prime Minister hear this call for help and support a coordinated response to make Glasgow safer?"
Burnham's response
Burnham responded: "Policing is obviously a devolved matter, but I am very open to working with the SNP Government, Police Scotland and Glasgow City Council to deal with the issues that she is referencing.
"As mayor of Greater Manchester, I brought forward Operation Vulcan, which was a multi-agency approach to changing Cheetham Hill, and it did rip out entrenched criminality in that area.
"I'm more than happy about how we pioneer that in Glasgow too."
