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Keir Starmer's might have to start closer to home after the Milibands objected to the construction of a block of flats near their family home. The Prime Minister has declared , an acronym for not in my backyard, as a stumbling block to economic growth and has vowed to reform planning laws to enable his government to build 1.5 million new homes this parliament.

However it is understood that Dame Justine Thornton, the wife of energy secretary , has argued against the construction of a new block of flats near the family home, claiming that they are "too tall, too bulky and too dense". Thornton advised Camden council that they should rethink the design of the flats due to be built close to the family's £3 million home in Dartmouth Park, North London. The perceived hypocrisy is even starker given Miliband's promise to "take on the blockers, the delayers, the obstructionists" who oppose his audacious green agenda.

The building of 1.5 million homes is one of the Starmer government's central pledges with planning reform sitting at the heart of Housing Secretary Angela Rayner's housing mission.

Earlier this year, the Prime Minister wrote that he would put "the country's future prosperity ahead of the whims of nimbys who have been holding us back for too long," a message reemphasised in the wake of last week's council election humiliation.

Sources close to Thornton argue that she has "made clear she had no objection to the principle of new housing on the site. She was referring to a specific design."

Thornton, a High Court judge, stated in her objection that "the proposed design appears to be too tall, too bulky and too dense for its plot given the context of the surrounding houses and the wider conservation area".

She added that she had "no objection to the principle of redevelopment into flats, particularly in the context of the need for more housing".

However, in an objection first reported by the , she said that the council should recognise "the benefit of redevelopment whilst rejecting this particular design".

Other objectors include Hollywood actor Benedict Cumberbatch and his wife Sophie Hunter who claimed that the property would not be in keeping with Dartmouth Park's well-preserved architectural heritage.

They said: "Approval would set a precedent. For example, could I now demolish my property and replace it with flats and not require the same extensive planning approval?

"Or worse, the properties located behind this proposal could apply to be demolished with an even bigger property that this proposal is being submitted to form a mega development."

Kevin Hollinrake, the shadow housing secretary, said: "Red Ed joins the not-at-all exclusive club of 14 other serving cabinet ministers who have objected to housing developments in their areas. Incredibly, the energy secretary has pledged to 'smash the nimbys' but, as ever with Labour, this is just another case of do as I say, not do as I do."

Ed Miliband has been approached for comment.