LITTERBUG Tory activists have been slammed for “dumping” leaflets in tenement closes on the campaign trail.
Leaflets for Conservative candidate John White were left in communal areas of blocks of flats – despite pledges to tackle cleansing problems in his area.
Residents of the flats in Easterhouse, Glasgow were reportedly left furious after discovering the flyers in their closes and halls this week.
READ MORE: SNP set out vision for greener Glasgow in council election manifesto
Easterhouse, in the north-east of the city, could be represented by White (below) for the Scottish Conservatives if he is successful in the local elections in May.
But he faces accusations he and his campaigners have treated locals with “contempt” by littering outside their homes.
Ruairi Kelly, who hopes to be re-elected for the SNP in the North East ward, said residents in the flats in Lochend Road and Dubton Street were “furious” at the mess left by the Tories.
The Tories in Glasgow have focused their campaign on litter and concerns about the city’s cleansing facilities.
On a leaflet left in one close, White places a pledge to “clean up our city” at the top of a list of his priorities should be elected.
Binmen in Glasgow went on strike for eight days during COP26 last year to fight for better pay and conditions in the culmination of a long-running dispute with the city council, with the GMB union accusing the local authority in underinvesting in cleansing services.
READ MORE: Glasgow bin strikes to go ahead as world leaders arrive for COP26
White responded to a post made about the incidents on Twitter, admitting it had been a member of his team responsible.
He said: “I’ll ensure this is raised with the first time campaigner who put them out.”
Kelly said: “Campaigning must be done responsibly and be respectful of people’s communities and homes, to claim to be cleaning up the city while at the same time throwing your leaflets all over the place shows the contempt in which the Tories hold the people of Glasgow.
“On May 5, the people of Glasgow North East will have the chance to vote in councillors like myself and Mandy Morgan who have secured record amounts of funding and worked hand in glove with communities or those that offer nothing but negativity and trash their communities while doing so.”
Littering can result in an on-the-spot fine of £80, though in private closes the responsibility for upkeep lies with the owners, Glasgow City Council told The National.
The flats in question are understood to be owned by Wheatley Homes Glasgow.
A spokesperson for Wheatley Homes Glasgow said: "We take all littering in our communities seriously.
“If anyone comes across any litter they should contact our Customer First Centre immediately, who will arrange for it to be removed.”
The National understands the campaigner responsible is partially sighted and did not feel it safe to climb the stairs.
A Scottish Tory spokesman said: “This was an accidental mistake from someone who is not familiar with campaigning.
"We will endeavour to make sure it doesn't happen again."
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