Writing in the Daily Telegraph, Amanda Milling said voters' concerns were "loud and clear" after the Lib Dems won the Chesham and Amersham by-election.

Ms Milling said ministers needed to "shout louder" about Boris Johnson's promise to "level up" the UK.

Local opposition to the HS2 high-speed rail line being built through the constituency and the government's proposed changes to the planning system, which could see more homes being built in rural areas, were major factors in the poll.

In her article, Ms Milling says: "I am in no doubt that Thursday's result is a warning shot and we are listening.

The government says the Planning Bill - announced at the Queen's Speech - will make it easier to hit house-building targets.

Addressing concerns the government's focus on the so-called former red wall seats in the Midlands and North of England has left people in traditional "blue wall" Tory areas feeling left behind, Ms Milling says the prime minister's levelling up agenda "was a promise to people - North, South, East and West - to help them take the opportunities that our country and government can provide".

Also writing in the Telegraph, former environment secretary Theresa Villiers said ministers should see the by-election loss "as an opportunity to rethink their approach to planning reform".

Labour had the worst by-election result in the party's history, with 622 votes.

Lib Dems seize Tory seat in by-election upset.

Troubled US teens left traumatised by tough love camps

Troubled US teens left traumatised by tough love camps

Troubled US teens left traumatised by tough love camps1