The Conservative policy on council housing has been consistent over many years and puts personal choice at the top of the agenda.

I am surprised Ruth Arundell suggests city Conservatives have no opinion on this matter (Letters, June 25). Our policy document spells out in detail our views.

In the Eighties, many people benefited from being able to purchase affordable housing for the first time because of the Conservative Party.

The allegation of privatising council housing is somewhat disingenuous. Giving thousands of families a chance to own their own homes during previous Conservative governments is certainly something that deserves no apology.

People are too quick to believe that private ownership is somehow wrong.

We believe tenants have the right to decide how their homes are managed and nothing will happen to their homes under the Conservatives in Brighton and Hove unless they agree to it in a ballot first.

We certainly do not want wholesale transfer to a monolithic housing association because that is simply replacing one monopoly provider of housing with another.

We are determined to ensure that the residents of Brighton and Hove are presented with the choice they deserve.

-Coun Brian Oxley, Leader of the Conservative Group, Brighton and Hove City Council