REGARDING your excellent article on the lack of affordable accommodation for homeless families.

Reasonably priced accommodation is a most pressing need for many people, and the lack of it is blocking the road to independence for many of our younger people.

We have two opposing political philosophies in this country. The right believes that the market and capitalism is the most effective way to provide for our basic needs such as housing, health, transport and many other facilities to service a rich and developed nation such as the UK.

On the other side of the political divide are those who believe that governments can provide a more efficient and equitable service to the people of this country. This idea, post-war, was the driving force behind the founding of the NHS and a massive council house building programme, a decent affordable transport system, an improved education system, resulting in a happier, healthier nation.

In order to protect “the market” this government will give little or no help to competition in the form of local councils’ ability to build affordable homes. “The market”, not people, is what matters to the Conservative Party.

Mrs F Henderson

Wingates

Westhoughton