IT IS Howard Perry who needs to eat words and not the critics of Labour’s failed affordable housing policies (Letters, January 9). Remember, Mr Perry, 50 per cent of nothing is nothing.

Land Registry figures showing high house prices in York is proof of an imbalance between supply and demand caused by ill-judged interference in the market. Thousands of possible homes were not built over the past eight years as a direct result of destructive policies initiated by the Lib Dems and continued by Labour.

The council tried to blame the banks, landowners or recession; anything but their own policies. They resorted to passing off student accommodation, Government subsidised schemes and even hostel bed spaces as evidence of house building. They tried to hide the truth that projects by private house builders were being cancelled.

It may seem that speculative building is starting again, but it is minimal and short lived. Over the long-term, things will get worse.

Labour’s defective Local Plan reduces the threshold of affordable housing in urban areas from 14 to two units, despite overwhelming evidence in the villages where this has pertained since 2005 that it is an unmitigated disaster.

On top of this there is looming a new tax the community infrastructure levy and a crippling demand for carbon zero by 2016.

Anyone, like Mr Perry, who thinks that Labour’s demands for affordable housing will result in homes being delivered has learned nothing.

John Jones, former housebuilder, Sand Hutton Manor, York.