Andrew Martin explains very clearly – and honestly – why the housing market is broken.

It is evident that, while we rely on the private sector and the market, with only a small contribution from the social sector, this country will remain broken or on the edge of collapse across the whole range of social provision.

For 40 years we have trusted in an unworkable system and we now face a housing situation which bears some comparison with the end of World War II. We have not been, to use George Osborne’s dishonest phrase, “all in it together”.

It is time that we were, and one of the things that needs urgently addressing – there are others –

is a major programme of building social housing for subsidised – ie genuinely affordable – rent.

BARRY TEMPEST

Romulus Close,

Dorchester