Housebuilders and developers could withold millions of pounds in donations from the Conservative Party amid concerns over the government’s attitude to development.
About a fifth of donations to the Tories over a 10-year period – around £60m – came from housing developers and builders, which aligned themselves with the traditional Conservative position of home ownership.
However, Tory sources have said such donations have dried up as ministers were accused of bowing to “selfish” MPs who are considered anti-development.
Last year, ministers scrapped housebuilding targets in the face of a backbench rebellion. Since then housebuilding rates have been dropping sharply.
One Tory source said: “I think you might struggle to name a developer who is currently donating.”
Last month, Thakeham chief executive Rob Boughton wrote on LinkedIn: “Shame on those MPs and the vocal minority they try to protect at the cost of so many.” His company has previously donated more than £1m to the Conservatives.
A second Tory source said: “They [the developer donors] are on strike. And is it any surprise? What a way to spit in their f***ing face.”
