Tories lost thanks to HS2 debacle and planning laws

THERE is little doubt that both relaxation of planning laws and the HS2 white elephant project cost the Tories the Chesham and Amersham by-election (“Boris given bloody nose by Lib Dems in by-election drubbing – ‘Tory blue wall crumbling!’”, June 18).

Communities have seen property, woodlands and habitats destroyed just so that an elite few can cut half an hour off their train journey.

There must be fears in Tory ranks that this defeat may not be the last.

Jim Sokol, Minehead, Somerset