The government’s proposed planning reforms were blamed for last night’s shock by-election defeat for the Conservatives in one of their heartland seats.

Sarah Green, the Liberal Democrats candidate, overturned a Tory majority of 16,000 in Buckinghamshire’s Chesham and Amersham constituency with a huge 25% swing, the 14th biggest ever seen in a by-election. The seat, which has been held by Conservatives since its creation in 1974, was contested after the death of former incumbent Cheryl Gillan in April.

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