Protect us from Rachman and rats

Published: 13 August, 2010

• HITHERTO various UK governments have sought to abolish council housing by eradicating council housing stock. 

Now the idea is to abolish council housing by abolishing council tenants!

In an item about changes to come for council tenants on BBC radio on Saturday a number of subjects were featured. 

They included tenants “improving” themselves, the role banking may play, general patronising and, again, confusing references to social housing. 

There is a difference between council housing and social housing. 

The relationship that defines council housing is that of a tenant and a landlord when that is the local authority, not a charity or any form of private enterprise, co-op or otherwise. 

After a probationary period the tenant becomes a secure tenant. And the secure council tenancy gives, among other advantages, the greatest protection the ordinary people have against a return of a Rachman and his rats.

I did agree, though, with one MP on the BBC Radio 4 programme who said at the end “this is a mass debate”. 

Indeed, with millionaire Tories and merchant bankers involved what else could it be?

RD WARREN, NW1