Before Margaret Thatcher, council housing was a self-financing public asset which provided decent, secure homes at low rent, for people in need.

In opposition, Blair suggested he would reverse the Thatcherite policies which were undermining this system.

Eight years later, thousands of council homes have been transferred to housing associations, tearing up rent controls and secure tenancies.

Now, council tenants subsidise housing benefit to the tune of £850 a year, per tenant.

Perhaps now Blair will bring the troops home. He's going to need them here to put down the riots when this gets out.

-Ruth Arundell, Defend Council Housing, Brighton and Hove