Conservative MPs have led an attack against the Government's planning policy, saying it was losing the party votes.

MPs of all parties were yesterday united in their condemnation of the Coalition's flagship national planning policy, saying it was failing to protect the green belt, Among them was Conservative Stuart Andrew who said of future development in his Pudsey constituency: “Up to 80 per cent of all the new homes will be built on greenbelt or greenfield sites. The precious places which are the lungs within our communities, the natural barriers between the towns and villages and the green borders between the cities of Leeds and Bradford will all be gone.

“They are now all under threat and my constituents are clearly not happy.”

Conservative MP for Tewkesbury Laurence Robertson said: “Our policies on planning are losing us many votes in many areas. And I'm sure the leaders of my party don't intend that to happen either.”