Half of Sir Keir Starmer’s Cabinet opposed planning proposals in their own constituencies, The Telegraph can reveal, prompting accusations of hypocrisy over Labour’s house-building policy.

Angela Rayner, the Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary, Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, and David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, are among key members of Sir Keir’s top team who complained to councils over new homes.

Labour ran an election campaign centred on plans to “bulldoze” the planning system and build 1.5 million homes in five years – a pledge designed to appeal to young voters unable to get on the property ladder.

Last week, Ms Reeves used her first major speech in office to outline the return of mandatory housing targets and, asked whether she was a “Yimby” – standing for Yes in my back yard – she said: “I do support development.”

Bills to relax planning laws and allow building on the green belt are set to be a prominent part of Wednesday’s King’s Speech, which is expected to announce around 30 new laws, including legislation to scrap green rules that prevent thousands of homes from being built.

Ms Rayner is preparing to reform controversial environmental rules that prevent house-building in the countryside, despite having opposed Tory attempts to do so last year. She is planning to change so-called nutrient neutrality regulations, which make it harder to build hundreds of thousands of homes.

The Housing Secretary is among 13 out of 24 in Sir Keir’s top team to have criticised their local authority over proposed new property developments during the last two Parliaments.

As well as Ms Rayner, Ms Reeves, and Mr Lammy, Darren Jones, Hilary Benn, Jo Stevens, Lisa Nandy, Liz Kendall, Pat McFadden, Peter Kyle, Steve Reed, Wes Streeting and Yvette Cooper have all voiced objections.

A Conservative Party spokesman said: “Rachel Reeves has promised to rip up planning rules so Labour can concrete over the countryside.

“But she has clearly forgotten the hypocrisy of her Cabinet colleagues, including herself. When even their own Cabinet is against their house-building plans, Labour should think twice before deploying the diggers.”

In her speech on Monday, Ms Reeves promised to “make the hard choices” to “get Britain building again”. 

But in 2019, she opposed plans to build dozens of new council houses on a former sports ground in her Leeds West and Pudsey constituency, saying she was “very disappointed” by a lack of public consultation on the proposals.

She said at the time: “We desperately need more housing in our community, especially council and affordable housing, and so a commitment to build homes is welcome. However, we also need more green spaces and sports provision for young people.”

Under the proposals, signed off twice by Leeds City council, 61 new homes would have been built on the TV Harrison fields. The council’s decision to grant planning permission was ruled unlawful in 2022.

Ms Rayner was made Housing Secretary last week, vowing to take on “vested interests” to build more homes. But in 2017 she marched with residents to protest against plans to build on green belt land in Ashton Hurst, a ward in her Ashton-under-Lyne constituency.

She said she was ready to “intervene” if a plan to build 200 homes on a school playing field did not offer enough green space. The project was approved three years later.

Ms Rayner also signalled her opposition to Greater Manchester’s wider planning regime in 2019, saying it was “right that my constituents are raising issues” around public services. She said at the time: “I have fed that through, as the local MP, to Andy Burnham [the Greater Manchester Mayor]. We have to protect our green belt.”

Ms Cooper, the Home Secretary, was among those who objected to 408 new homes being built on farmland in Wakefield, a plan recommended for approval this week.

Her objections, and a petition signed by more than 2,000 residents, have been ignored by council planning officers, with a final decision set to be made next week. A report found the proposed development was “acceptable in principle” and there were “no technical reasons” why planning permission should be withheld.

Mr Lammy used a debate in the Commons in 2020 to set out his opposition to a plan to build 196 new luxury flats in his Tottenham constituency.

The Foreign Secretary claimed the proposals, which had been signed off by Haringey council, would mean a “dramatic increase” in rent paid by businesses and nearby market traders. The company behind the development push abandoned its plans the following year.

In 2019, Mr Streeting, the Health Secretary, initially supported plans for three markets to move to fields in his Ilford North constituency, less than 10 miles away. But when the bid failed two months later, he met concerned residents to sign a “clear and unequivocal pledge” to defend green belt land in his constituency.

It is Labour policy to ramp up building on the green belt by allowing parts of it to be reclassified as “grey belt” and therefore freed up for development.

It comes as the nutrient neutrality rules, which can make it harder to build homes, are set to be reformed by Ms Rayner. The rules mean new developments must ensure that any harmful chemicals entering the watercourse must be offset by measures elsewhere, which are often so cumbersome that they prevent new developments altogether.

Ms Rayner’s plans come despite her opposing former housing secretary Michael Gove’s proposals to reform the rules last year. Mr Gove’s plans were eventually blocked by Labour in the Lords. Reforming them will be likely to require primary legislation.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said: “We will bring forward solutions to unlock the building of much-needed homes affected by nutrient neutrality.”

A Labour spokesman said: “As the Chancellor set out, this Labour Government will take the tough decisions to get Britain building again where the previous Tory government failed.

“We’ll take the urgent steps to reform the planning system and boost economic growth. The new Government’s plan will unleash new vital infrastructure, set up new energy projects, and boost the number of homes needed in communities across the country.”

Police investigating body parts found in suitcases in Bristol have found further remains in a London flat, as they named the suspect they are trying to trace.

Officers said 24-year-old Colombian national Yostin Andres Mosquera is wanted in connection with the deaths of two men whose remains were found in two suitcases in Bristol on Wednesday.

More human remains have been found at an address in Shepherd’s Bush, west London.

The Metropolitan Police said officers found the remains at the house in Scotts Road on Friday and they are believed to be connected to those found in two suitcases dumped near Clifton Suspension Bridge on Wednesday.

A Met statement said: “Officers are still seeking the man whose image was released previously. He can now be named as 24-year-old Colombian national Yostin Andres Mosquera.

“While searching a flat in Scotts Road, W12 on Friday, 12 July, officers found human remains which are in the process of being sensitively removed. Additional post-mortem examinations will be arranged as soon as possible.

“At this early stage, officers believe that the remains are connected to the human remains found in Bristol, and that there are still two male victims.

“Officers believe they know the identity of the two men, although formal identification is yet to take place. Enquiries continue to locate and inform their next of kin.

“Both victims are thought to have been known to Mosquera and the Met is appealing for information on his whereabouts.”

Earlier on Friday, police said the suspect travelled from London to Bristol before leaving suitcases filled with the remains of two adult men on Clifton Suspension Bridge, police have said.

Police have issued an image of the suspect, who fled the scene after being confronted by members of the public.

He was described as black, with a beard and wearing a black Adidas baseball cap, black jeans, a black jacket and white trainers. He also had a black backpack.

Police were called at 11.57pm on Wednesday to reports of a man seen “acting suspiciously”.

Officers arrived less than 10 minutes later, but the man had already left the scene, leaving a suitcase behind. A second suitcase was discovered nearby a short time later. Both were found to contain human remains.

One post-mortem examination has been carried out which proved “inconclusive”, police said. A second post-mortem remains ongoing.

The victims have not yet been formally identified but both are believed to be adult men, detectives said.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Andy Valentine said: “This is a fast-moving enquiry with detectives in London and Bristol actively pursuing a number of lines of enquiry.

“Locating Yostin Andres Mosquera, however, is the priority and I appeal to anyone with information on his whereabouts to get in touch.”

The force added a 36-year-old man arrested in connection with the investigation in Greenwich on Friday has been released without charge.

Anyone with information is urged to call police on 101 and quote the Met Police reference CAD 306 12JUL.

Alec Baldwin wept in court on Friday as a judge unexpectedly dismissed a case against him for manslaughter on the set of Rust.

The case was brought to an abrupt close in New Mexico after the judge, Mary Marlowe Sommer, accused the state of withholding evidence.

Baldwin was accused of the accidental death of a cinematographer, after a prop gun he was using discharged a live round on set.

He had been told the gun was “cold” and safe to use, but was accused of brandishing it dangerously during rehearsal.

“There is no way for the court to right this wrong,” said Judge Sommer, accusing the state of bringing undisclosed evidence to the trial when it had already begun.

“The state’s withholding of the evidence was wilful and deliberate,” she added. 

“Dismissal with prejudice is warranted to ensure the integrity of the judicial system and the efficient administration of justice.”

Mr Baldwin’s life and livelihood has been under threat for three years after the death of Halyna Hutchins, the cinematographer. He faced 18 months in prison if convicted.

Erlinda Johnson, one of the state prosecutors on the case, resigned on Friday, the fourth prosecutor to quit or be forced to step down.

“I did not intend to mislead the court,” lead state prosecutor Kari Morrissey said after taking the unusual step of defending herself from the witness stand. 

“My understanding of what was dropped off at the sheriff’s office is on this computer screen and it looks absolutely nothing like the live rounds from the set of Rust.”

The actor’s lawyers said the Santa Fe sheriff’s office took possession of live rounds as evidence in the case but failed to list them in the Rust investigation file or disclose their existence to defence lawyers.

They also alleged the rounds were evidence that the bullet that killed Hutchins came from Seth Kenney, the movie’s prop supplier. 

Mr Kenney has denied supplying live ammunition to the production and has not been charged in the case. He had been expected to testify against Baldwin.

The Colt .45 rounds at the centre of the case’s dismissal were handed into the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office on March 6 by Troy Teske, a friend of Thell Reed, the stepfather of Rust armorer Hannah Gutierrez, on the same day Gutierrez was convicted of involuntary manslaughter for Hutchins’ death.

A Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office technician, Marissa Poppel, testified before the judge on Friday that the rounds were not hidden from Baldwin and she was told to file them and details on how they were obtained under a different case number to the Rust case. 

She disputed the assertion of Alex Spiro, Baldwin’s lawyer, that the Colt .45 ammunition matched the round that killed Hutchins.

Ms Morrissey had questioned the allegation the evidence was concealed from Baldwin.

“If you buried it how did the defence attorneys know to cross examine you about it yesterday?” Ms Morrissey asked.

Prosecutors accused Gutierrez of bringing the live rounds onto the set, an allegation she denied.

Prosecutors allege Baldwin played a role in the death of Hutchins because he handled the gun irresponsibly. 

His lawyers say Baldwin was failed by Gutierrez and others responsible for safety on the set, and that law enforcement agents were more interested in prosecuting their client than finding the source of a live round that killed Hutchins.

After two weeks of calls for him to step away from the presidential race, Joe Biden has finally set out his criteria for ending his five-decade political career.

In his press conference at the Nato summit on Thursday, he said that he would stay in the contest unless his team told him: “There’s no way you can win.”

“They’re not saying that,” he insisted. “No poll says that.”

That stance is a change from his previous pronouncement that only the “Lord Almighty” could persuade him to make way for a younger candidate.

It came after accusations from sitting Democrats that Mr Biden’s belief he is the only man who could beat Donald Trump risked losing his party the presidency and both branches of Congress in November’s election.

On Thursday, he acknowledged: “There are other people who could beat Trump, too. But it’s awful hard to start from scratch.”

The polls already suggest that he will lose the election, and his advisers are already working out how to break that news to him.

David Axelrod, the former Barack Obama campaign adviser, has speculated that Mr Biden’s inner circle may be hiding the truth from him about his poor performance in the polls.

Mr Biden had something of a comeback earlier this year, after entering 2024 behind Trump in national polls.

He increased his support from 44.4 per cent to 46.7 per cent of the US public, halving the gap between him and Trump from 2.2pts to 0.8pts by the end of May. 

Analysts suggested that the improving economy was finally being noticed by voters.

The polls tightened further when Trump was convicted in the Stormy Daniels “hush money” case. 

Within a week of the jury’s verdict, the gap between him and Mr Biden had shrunk to just 0.3pts.

But the constant focus on the 81-year-old president’s age and health has since seen the polls fall back. 

Since May, the gap between the two men has jumped to three points, as Mr Biden’s own support has plummeted down to 44.2 per cent.

This has generated significant scepticism that he could beat Trump in November, after months more scrutiny of his age and gaffes.

The US betting markets now give vice president Kamala Harris a better chance of winning the 2024 race than Mr Biden, although both are significantly behind Trump.

On Thursday, Mr Biden claimed: “There are at least five presidents running or incumbent presidents who had lower numbers than I have now.”

Although strictly true, he neglected to mention that none of the incumbents with lower numbers won their elections.

George HW Bush, Jimmy Carter and Trump had similar approval ratings at this point in the presidential cycle, but all lost their races for re-election and left the White House after just one term.

At this point in the 2012 cycle, Mr Obama was leading Mitt Romney by 2.5 points. Trump was trailing Mr Biden by eight points.

Part of the issue for Mr Biden’s campaign is that his support is falling among groups that were most likely to vote for him in 2020, including young liberals and minority ethnic Americans.

That trend is driven partly by his stance on the war in Gaza, which has alienated pro-Palestinian Americans. 

Those voters are unlikely to support Trump, but may pick a third-party candidate or choose not to vote, experts believe.

Meanwhile, Mr Biden has also been losing some of the voters in camps where Trump was already leading.

Since November 2023, his support among middle-aged people has fallen from 44 per cent to 37 per cent, the proportion of men who back him has fallen from 37 per cent to 34 per cent.

He is also neck-and-neck with Trump among Hispanic voters, where the Trump campaign has made some of its largest gains.

The nature of state-by-state voting in presidential elections means that Mr Biden’s national ratings are less important than his support in several key battleground states.

If he loses the majority of the swing states, Trump will win the election, even if he has strong support in some true blue areas, like California.

Trump was already leading in the key states, but since the end of May when he was convicted, the polls suggest the gap has widened further.

That is true in Arizona, Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania and North Carolina.

In four of these states, the gap now exceeds five points – at the start of 2024 it was just two states.

If Trump picked up just those states with leads of five points, he would win the presidential election by 271 electoral college delegates to 266, the polls suggest.

Mr Biden’s aides have argued that the slump in support he has experienced since his disastrous debate with Trump two weeks ago is temporary.

They say that he has experienced a campaign “moment”, rather than a fundamental shift in the race.

But as his performance at Nato showed, there is serious potential for more slip-ups that will erode his support further. The additional scrutiny on everything the president does is unlikely to work in his favour.

A man has been arrested in connection with the Hertfordshire crossbow murders of three women on Tuesday.

Kyle Clifford, from Enfield, in north London, was arrested on Thursday evening on suspicion of three counts of murder.

Detective Superintendent Rob Hall, of the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit, said: “Our thoughts remain with the victims’ family at this tragic time.

“The investigation is moving at pace and, as a result, we have now arrested a man. Enquiries are continuing at this time.”

Police said the suspect remains in a serious condition in hospital after being found with a wound to his chest at a cemetery close to his home on Wednesday afternoon.

The 26-year-old, a former soldier and security guard, was held on suspicion of killing Louise Hunt, his 25-year-old ex-girlfriend, her sister Hannah, 28, and their 61-year-old mother Carol with a crossbow at their home.

Friends of the Hunt family attended a vigil at St James’ Church in Bushey on Thursday, paying tribute to the three women.

Lea Holloway, 60, a childhood friend of Carol Hunt, described her as a “beautiful person”.

She said: “This is the stuff nightmares are made of. They were a lovely family and they [the daughters] were lovely girls. I feel for their eldest daughter and John [Hunt]. I can’t imagine what it would be like.”

After being joined by two other close friends, Dionne Smith, 58, and Abigail Phillips, 58, the trio told reporters: “We were a four, and now there’s only three. It doesn’t seem real. We are together in grief.”

Colleagues of Mr Hunt said they were “heartbroken” for the commentator, and a minute’s silence was held for the family during the July Festival at Newmarket Racecourse in Suffolk.

Flowers were left at the scene in Ashlyn Close, Bushey, with notes bearing messages attached to some bouquets.

Shortly after the arrest of Clifford, police moved their cordon back along Ashlyn Close, nearer to the scene of the crime.

Uniformed officers could be seen standing at the front door as colleagues worked inside and along the cul-de-sac to establish the precise sequence of events that culminated in the three deaths.

After handing a small bouquet of flowers to an officer, Adam Davis, 30, who works at the Bushey Grove Leisure Centre, frequently used by the Hunt family, said: “I knew all the family, and the daughters I knew quite well because Hannah worked as a massage therapist for us.

“John would come in a lot and was always so friendly. They all were. They loved to have a chat. I can’t say a single bad thing about them.”

Mr Davis said he knew that Louise Hunt had been in a relationship with Clifford for a number of months, but added: “She kept it really quiet, so I don’t know much about what their relationship was like.”

The Independent Office for Police Conduct said it received a mandatory referral from the Metropolitan Police after Mr Clifford was found by officers with serious injuries in Enfield, but was satisfied that no investigation was needed.