Cotswold MP Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown told the planning chairman of a local council to “do whatever you can” to ensure a Cirencester business got planning approval, emails sent by the politician show.

Stratton Court care home in Cirencester wanted planning permission to open its restaurant to the general public last year. 

A Freedom of Information request revealed Mr Clifton-Brown told the planning chairman of Cirencester Town Council, councillor Stuart Tarr, to “do whatever he can” to make sure the application is successful.

Political opponents, such as the mayor of Cirencester Nigel Robbins, claim it is wrong as the business, Aura Care Homes, is a Conservative Party supporter.

Mr Clifton-Brown has defended his comments.

In the emails, Mr Tarr was invited to a Cirencester Breakfast Club at the care home’s restaurant organised by Mr Clifton-Brown, which he declined.

Mr Tarr told Mr Clifton-Brown that it did not yet have planning permission, and that he should think consider using another location for the meeting.

Mr Tarr said in the email chain: “It’s possible that the planning consent could be resolved in time for the breakfast club but as things stand, given that Sir Geoffrey is very keen to observe planning protocols, you might want to think about another location.”

Mr Clifton-Brown told Mr Tarr: “Please do not always try to put a negative spin on things when people are trying to support the [Conservative] Party.”

Mr Tarr said he didn’t want the Conservative Party to be involved in “controversy” by staging an event in breach of planning permission.

Mr Clifton-Brown replied: “I find this email chain very troubling. 

“I hope you’re going to support this business that brings considerable employment investment to the town and the surrounding area and do whatever you can to ensure that their A3 application is successful.”

Mr Clifton-Brown confirms he copied in to his reply senior local Conservative members, including the leader of Cotswold District Council Tony Berry.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service has approached Mr Clifton-Brown for comment, but speaking on BBC Radio Gloucestershire, he defended himself.

He said: “I suppose it would have been alright to lobby on behalf of a business if it was a Liberal Democrat? This is a nonsense. I have received in my time as an MP hundreds of applications for businesses for help in planning. I am elected to support constituents.”

Mayor of Cirencester Nigel Robbins said: “What is clear, despite his denials, that he would continue to put pressure on our planning in the town council to get favours for the residential care home and their sponsors. 

“It’s pretty obvious.

"It’s totally illegitimate, it is one of the absolute no-no’s about local government.

"You do not try to pressurise the planning committee.”