Tory zealot Jonathan Sheppard (Letters, July 30) narrow-mindedly refuses to enter into a meaningful debate about causes of the current housing crisis.

At the same time, he offers people with severe housing difficulties unreconstructed Thatcherite self-interest as a kind of vague panacea.

Part of Brighton and Hove's housing reality is this: Brighton and Hove City Council's housing managers enable, from the housing waiting lists each year, hundreds of people to move into council housing, transfer to another council house and provide accommodation for the homeless.

Locally, more than 5,250 properties have been lost to the private sector since Right To Buy began.

Currently, more than 5,000 people are waiting to be placed in council housing.

-Pat Murphy, Pat.Murphy@Brighton-Hove.gov.uk