TENANTS were warned not to be hoodwinked yesterday by Tory privatisation junkies said to be plotting to dish out thousands of freebie taxpayer-funded homes in an election ploy.

Defend Council Housing chairwoman Eileen Short accused the “Cabinet of landlords” of planning the desperate giveaway to bribe voters — but advised people not to fall for it.

Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith is said to want the manifesto pledge to “gift” social tenants in England their house after a year in work.