I FIND the Labour council’s approach to housing largely hypocritical. We are fast approaching a housing crisis unseen in this country since Victorian times.

The most disastrous policy of the 20th century was to allow the sale of social (council) housing. It is to the eternal shame of Labour that it did not repeal this legislation when it had the chance. Why tenants were allowed massive discounts on these properties is another issue.

Successive governments seem unable to grasp the reality there are millions of people in this country who will never be able to afford to buy a house. The local council now pursues the “affordable” housing policy, which is equally disastrous, expecting house-builders to provide social housing from there own profits. This policy has effectively killed off house-building.

The private rented sector is only concerned with profit and cannot provide security or affordability. Although regulation of this sector is being discussed, it will have no effect on rent levels or security of tenure. I had an idea to develop a different approach to this problem, the private sector in particular. I approached several political and other organisations such as Shelter with a view to pitching my ideas.

Sadly, I did not receive one inquiry.

Charlie Stone, Southolme Drive, York.