GLASGOW needs a radical new strategy to save its historic buildings, a Labour MP writes in tomorrow’s Morning Star after a Holyrood committee called for a public inquiry into the Glasgow School of Art (GSA) fires.

Paul Sweeney, who represents Glasgow North East in the Commons, recommends new powers to force negligent landlords to sell up, and suggests a Land Value Tax could reduce the number of derelict buildings left to crumble.

The Scottish Parliament’s culture committee said that in the run-up to the 2014 fire, the GSA appeared not to have specifically addressed the heightened risk of fire to the famous Charles Rennie Mackintosh building.