One of the main issues people come to see me about it housing. There is a chronic shortage of homes in the city. On 19 March 2008, I asked our Prime Minister:

"Figures revealed to me show that 10,500 households in Brighton and Hove are currently waiting for council homes fit to live in. Some are rehoused 20 miles away in temporary accommodation, while others are in private rented accommodation that is substandard to say the least. What additional powers will the Prime Minister make available to Member of Parliament to force Tory-led local authorities such as mine to build more affordable homes?"

He replied:

"There is a desperate need for more houses in this country, and it is important that all the agencies that can make possible the building of housing do so. Therefore, it is sad to see that some Conservative and Liberal authorities are unprepared to build the houses needed. We are prepared to make additional funding available, as we have shown. I hope that local authorities in every area of the country will respond to the urgent need."