The Labour Party has secured an urgent question in the House of Commons this morning regarding growing concern over Robert Jenrick’s decision to unlawfully approve planning permission for a £1bn east London scheme promoted by Conservative donor and media mogul Richard Desmond.

The question comes after the Electoral Commission earlier this week released information showing that Desmond, the former owner of Express Newspapers, donated £12,000 to the Conservative Party in February this year, shortly after the housing secretary (pictured, left) made the controversial appeal decision.

Jenrick’s decision to approve PLP’s 1,524-home Westferry Printworks scheme was overturned late last month after he admitted “apparent bias” in the decision following a legal challenge by the local authority, Tower Hamlets.

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