Over a third of London homes flogged on the cheap under Thatcher's right to buy scheme have fallen into the hands of private landlords, a London Assembly Member revealed yesterday.

Labour AM Tom Copley revealed that 52,000 former council properties are now being let at inflated prices - driving up Britain's housing benefits bill.

He described the Tory sell-off as a "Whitehall-sanctioned robbery of the taxpayer" which has left councils with huge housing waiting lists.