THE FUTURE of York's council homes has been made an election issue by Conservative Michael McIntyre.

He has asked Labour candidate Hugh Bayley to promise opposition to any plans to force City of York Council to transfer its housing stock to private landlords.

But Mr Bayley said he was willing to make the pledge, and turned it back on the Conservatives.

It follows the absence in Labour's manifesto of any statement ruling out the compulsory sale of the city's housing stock.

But City of York Council has said it had no plans to do that. Mr Bayley said: "City of York Council is a good landlord which has given a guarantee that it would consult its tenants over any changes and that it will not sell off council housing without their approval. I back that, but will Michael McIntyre give an assurance that his party is against the transfer of council housing?"

Mr McIntyre said: "Conservatives are not opposed to these transfers, but they must be with full consultation with and backing from the tenants."

Updated: 11:52 Saturday, June 02, 2001