The right-to-buy scheme enables council tenants to buy their own homes but has left local authorities with dwindling stock

Councils are being forced to buy back homes they sold under the right to buy scheme to keep up with growing housing lists.

Some local authorities have spent millions buying back stock they sold under the scheme introduced by the Conservatives in the 1980s, according to the BBC.

The housing charity Shelter said that the policy needed to be accompanied by a promise to build more affordable homes, otherwise cash-strapped city halls will fall further into debt.

Under the right to buy scheme, introduced by Margaret Thatcher in 1980, council homes have been sold off to tenants or public servants at various discounted rates.

According to analysis by the BBC, Islington, in north London, was forced to buy back 25 homes in the past two