THE latest Conservative policy announcement about extending the “Right to Buy” to Housing Association tenants must be the biggest confidence trick yet.

Housing Association tenants already have the right to acquire their home (not mentioned) albeit on terms which are inferior to council tenants.

It is now intended to raise the discounts to 50 per cent of the market value up to a maximum of £77,000.

Who will pay in these times of continued austerity? Not the Government!

Local councils will, by law, be forced to sell on the open market, their most valuable homes as they become vacant.

These sale proceeds will then be paid to Housing Associations to compensate for the discounts.

The pledge by David Cameron to give people “the chance of the good life” is at the expense of everyone else. Not one single additional home will result.

Instead, homes that would have been available to re-let will be sold off to the highest bidder so reducing the number of homes to rent!

The real issue facing York and the rest of the country is the shortage of additional homes that are affordable whether to rent or to buy.

This election “stunt” will do nothing to help those who are desperate for a home.

Bob Towner, Former Director of Housing, City of York Council, Hobgate, York.