Liz Truss said that homeowners who blocked development were the worst vested interest the government faced

Homeowners who block local development to protect property prices must be challenged by the government, the chief secretary to the Treasury has said.

Liz Truss described them as “the worst vested interest we’ve got” and said that the Conservatives must loosen planning laws to extend the party’s appeal.

The shortage of affordable housing for young people was key to Jeremy Corbyn’s popularity with younger voters at the last election, Ms Truss said as she called for changes to increase housebuilding and bring down prices.

Speaking to the Resolution Foundation think tank in London, she urged her party to adopt a popular free market agenda in the chancellor’s spending review this year. Ms Truss is closely involved in the review and will set the budgets of