BORIS Johnson is likely to face fresh clashes with Conservative rebels who oppose his planning reforms after a Cabinet minister rejected their criticism in the wake of the Tories’ defeat in the Chesham and Amersham by-election.
As the party questions why it lost the former stronghold to the LibDems, Justice Secretary Robert Buckland said the planning reforms were being “mischaracterised” when confronted with criticism from senior Conservative MPs, including former prime minister Theresa May.
He insisted the Government is “obliged to listen” to voters’ concerns but did not indicate ministers were considering a compromise on the plans, instead focusing on their “mischaracterisation” by opponents.
Labour will attempt to heap pressure on the Prime Minister over his proposals by calling on backbench rebels to support the opposition today in a Commons vote calling for protections for communities to object to planning applications.
Buckland was shown a leaflet used by the LibDems ahead of the by-election containing May’s claims that the plans risk the “wrong homes being built in the wrong places” when appearing on The Andrew Marr Show.
“Our policy very often was very frankly mischaracterised. At no time has this proposal been about suddenly indiscriminately bricking over the countryside,” Buckland said.
He was also asked about former environment secretary Theresa Villiers’s suggestion that a “fairer distribution” of new homes is needed “rather than seeking to cram so many thousands more into the crowded south”.
“I don’t believe the policy’s about that,” Buckland told Nick Robinson, who was presenting the BBC show. “I don’t agree with the characterisation that’s been described.”
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