Brighton and Hove would be declared "full" by the Conservatives if they came to power in the city.

Councillor Brian Oxley, Conservative Opposition leader on Brighton and Hove City Council, says his party would return homeless people to their own councils or others in the South-East.

He says the Labour-run council is soft and people are declaring themselves homeless just to set up home here.

In a speech to party activists in Saltdean, he said people would have to prove longer-term links with the city and would be given advice and help to rent privately.

Coun Oxley said: "At the moment, homelessness is in such a crisis that all re-lets in the city go to homeless people.

"This condemns people who are on the waiting list for genuine reasons to never finding a new home because there are so many families waiting for housing who are in bed and breakfast accommodation.

"This cannot be correct or fair. We have to find a way that strikes a fair balance."

He said the Tories would lobby Government to change housing benefit rules so homeless families could be placed in private homes.

Conservatives would encourage affordable housing by backing schemes which included a high proportion of shared ownership so people on modest incomes could afford to start to own a property.

He said council tenants who let down their neighbourhood by not paying their rent or by harassing neighbours should not be tolerated.

He added: "We will not tolerate degrading behaviour and if people will not pay their rent, there are plenty more would-be tenants who will.

"That is money we should be spending on council housing but which is lost."

Cabinet housing councillor Tehmtan Framroze said: "It is a disgrace that just after Homelessness Week, when people were trying to be positive about the plight of the homeless, all he can do it to criticise people who need help.

"He is probably talking about people who are sleeping rough, not the 4,000 households who present themselves as homeless to the council every year."

Coun Framroze said the council had to comply with Government laws, which made it responsible for accepting people in need.

He said they had to prove several things, including a local connection, and only a quarter were accepted.

He added: "Our officers are aware there is a limited amount of space available and they are trying to deal with it as best they can."

The council is lobbying the Government about changing housing benefit regulations.

Chief executive David Panter has written to Transport Secretary Stephen Byers and works minister Malcolm Wicks is to visit the city.

The council is working in close co-operation with landlords.

Coun Framroze said the council was keen on shared ownership schemes and was also housing scores of key workers.

But he added: "By far the greatest need in the city is for safe, rented, affordable, accessible housing."

Coun Framroze said the council was taking strong action against anti-social tenants but had to gain the support of the courts to gain orders.