Sunak backs down on housebuilding targets after pressure from Tory MPs

Labour accuses PM of putting party before country after up to 100 Tory MPs threatened to rebel

Rishi Sunak is to drop compulsory housebuilding targets to see off an embarrassing backbench rebellion, prompting criticism he is putting party unity over the national interest.

The move, which comes in the middle of a national housing crisis, will spark fresh concerns that the prime minister is too weak to take on unruly Conservative backbenchers.