Newly elected Labour MP opposes plans for new homes in her own constituency despite party's pledge to build tens of thousands of new properties

A newly elected Labour MP spent her first day opposing a housing development despite the Government's vow to build more homes. Sarah Coombes announced she was taking a break from Parliament to speak at a planning appeal on behalf of residents who are trying to stop fewer than 200 houses and a country park being built on farmland in the Black Country. Sarah Coombes announced she was taking a break from Parliament to speak at a planning appeal on behalf of residents who are trying to stop fewer than 200 houses and a country park being built on farmland in the Black Country Her comments came just a day after Chancellor Rachel Reeves pledged to 'get Britain building again', with 1.5million new homes in England promised over the next five years including on some low-quality green belt land Her comments came just a day after Chancellor Rachel Reeves pledged to 'get Britain building again', with 1.5million new homes in England promised over the next five years including on some low-quality green belt land. Before the election Ms Coombes had claimed that a Labour government would help get young people on the property ladder by giving them 'first dibs on new developments', and last year she said her party would 'fix our broken housing market'.