The future of council housing is worrying thousands of tenants who went to a protest rally in London this week.

Among them were scores from Brighton and Hove. They may have their gripes about the city council as a landlord but they prefer the Devil they know.

Well-run councils are good social landlords and should be allowed to hang on to most of their properties. Poorly-run councils should not.

But there is sometimes scope for innovation, which can be more easily practised by a housing association or non-council organisation.

A small but significant contribution can be made by co-operatives which have already successfully built many homes in the city.

They are only part of the social housing solution but they should be encouraged, especially to cater for those who slip through the council housing net.