Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick has just admitted that he unlawfully approved a £1bn east London housing development.

The 1,500-home development on the Isle of Dogs, Tower Hamlets, was approved on 14 January - the day before community charges placed on developments were increased. The timing of the decision meant that the developer - his friend (and Conservative Party donor) Richard Desmond - avoided paying around £40m.

In giving planning permission for this scheme, Jenrick ignored the advice of the government’s own planning inspector to push the scheme through. His own lawyers have now admitted that Jenrick has been guilty of bias.

This represents a scandalous instance of government abuse typical of corrupt regimes around the world. A government minister who acts against the public interest and abuses his power to help his friends betrays all of the trust placed in him. Robert Jenrick made a calculation that he would get away with this decision because of his contempt for the public. The public must now force Jenrick’s resignation to show that corruption of this type will not be tolerated.

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