WATCH: Ex-Birmingham MP brands bin chaos 'untenable' as litter fills the streets

Former Birmingham MP Khalid Mahmood has branded the ongoing bin strikes in the city as "absolutely disgraceful" as an estimated 17,000 tonnes of waste remains uncollected across the UK's second largest city.The strikes have been ongoing for weeks, leading to serious public health concerns with residents reporting rat infestations.The situation has prompted Birmingham City Council to declare a major incident on Monday as the dispute between Unite union and the council continues.READ THE FULL STORY HERE