LEADING politicians from across the political divide have blamed each other for plans to build thousands of homes.

The issue intensified in south Stockton last week during a heated debate at Stockton Borough Council in which the former mayor of Yarm, Jason Hadlow, angry about what he said was a "them and us" attitude from the council towards residents, was ejected.

Now James Wharton, Conservative MP for Stockton South, has publicly backed members of Save Stockton South action group (SSS)who say the council’s planning committee should have rejected more housing applications.

SSS struck up a petition of 2,500 names to force the council to hold a public debate into why so many housing developments have been approved.

At the meeting Shane Sellers, a leading member of SSS, said the planning committee had made inconsistent decisions and could have rejected some applications on the grounds of unsustainability and because they were on protected ‘green wedge’ land.

However coun Mike Smith, cabinet member for regeneration, said the Government’s National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), had relaxed planning regulations and the council had been put into “almost an impossible position”.

The authority could be “financially crippled and could lose planning control as a consequence” if it refused planning applications and continually had their decisions overturned on appeal.”

Mr Wharton argued Stockton Borough Council was “for political reasons, trying to put all the blame for planning on the Government".

He added: "In truth it is their local policies at fault."

Bob Cook, leader of the council, and Louise Baldock, Labour parliamentary candidate for Mr Wharton’s Stockton South constituency, have both issued press releases urging Mr Wharton to write to the Government planning inspector to oppose a plan to build 550 homes in Ingleby Barwick.

Coun Cook explained the authority had rejected the scheme, but added: “An appeal to the Secretary of State is highly likely and the council will need all the help it can get to stop him approving the deal.

"Mr Wharton has never sent in an objection to any planning application since he was elected in 2010 but I hope he will now step up to the plate.”

Ms Baldock said other Conservative MPs have formally objected to applications in their constituency, including the Prime Minister, David Cameron.

Since 2011 Stockton council has approved 350 homes at Morley Carr Farm, Yarm, 370 at Green Lane, Yarm, retirement village of 350 homes at Mount Leven, Yarm, 850 homes at Allens West. The authority lost an appeals after rejecting the building of 350 homes at Ingleby Barwick and 140 at Urlay Nook.