Swingeing spending cuts by SNP ministers are the real reason for the “disgusting” state of Glasgow’s streets on the eve of Cop26, a former Lord Provost of the city has said as he lambasted “ridiculous” attempts to blame Margaret Thatcher.

Michael Kelly, who was Lord Provost of Glasgow in the early 1980s, ridiculed claims by the SNP’s current council leader that the Thatcher government was responsible for rats and overflowing bins.

He accused Susan Aitken of remaining silent while the SNP government at Holyrood “starved Glasgow of funds for years” and argued she did not want to “rock the boat” in case it jeopardised the party’s independence campaign.