REGARDING the council housing situation in York (Letters, September 20), I am sure I am not the only one surprised that there are only 4,000 people in the queue for homes.

It was Margaret Thatcher, back in the Eighties, who outrageously started the ball rolling in the big sell-off of council homes at knock-down prices in what I can only think was her attempt to remain in power. Obviously, every taxpayer in the country funded the discount.

What is even more outrageous is when the champagne socialists, the so-called New Labour Party, took over from the Tories they did not rectify the situation, so the remaining available housing continues to dwindle and even more people who cannot afford to buy on the open market will find themselves homeless.

Meanwhile, so-called luxury apartments are being thrown up everywhere at a rate never seen before and, obviously, selling to someone.

I did not think there was the work or the money in York to sustain such an influx of people.

Some answers from the Labour Party would be helpful.

R Waite,

Windmill Rise,

Holgate, York.

Updated: 10:08 Monday, September 26, 2005