Senior Tories launch attack on Cameron's green policies

The battles over environmental policy that are likely to dog any future Conservative government were laid bare today when a number of senior Tories attacked the green movement's "fixation" with carbon targets, and warned that delivering deep cuts in emissions could have a "crippling" effect on the economy.

The thinly veiled attack on Conservative Leader David Cameron's support for green policies was led by David Davis, a former member of the shadow cabinet and leadership challenger. Writing in the Independent, Davis delivered a litany of complaints about the impact of green policies, warning that "the fixation of the green movement with setting ever-tougher targets is a policy destined to collapse".

"The ferocious determination to impose hair shirt policies on the public – taxes on holiday flights, or covering our beautiful countryside with wind turbines that look like props from War of the Worlds – would cause a reaction in any democratic country," he added.

He also warned that any attempts to cut carbon emissions would be quickly undermined by the impending energy shortages the UK faces, "lights going out around Britain could be an electoral off-switch for environmental policy".

Davis defended himself against accusations that he is a climate-sceptic, calling for the development of a "middle way" for tackling climate change built around micro-generation technologies, nuclear energy, greater focus on adaptation and geo-engineering solutions such as maximising cloud reflectivity.

However, the article further highlights deep divisions within the Conservative Party over environmental policy that have seen a number of senior figures express opposition to Cameron's stance on environmental issues and his support for the government's climate change bill.

Former cabinet minister Peter Lilley told the Independent that the risks presented by climate change were less severe than many scientists believe. "There is an irrefutable scientific process [on global warming]," he said. "I just think its effects tend to be exaggerated."

Other backbenchers echoed his position, with Graham Brady, Tory MP for Altrincham and Sale West, arguing that the scientific consensus around climate change was not as secure as widely believed. "There is some room for debate about why the climate is changing and the best ways of tackling it," he said. " It is a good idea to reduce carbon emissions, but I would not want to see the whole economy destroyed in the process. There is a balance to be struck."

A number of frontbenchers are rumoured to have doubts over both the science surrounding climate change and the environmental policies currently being pursued to combat it, while shadow business secretary Ken Clarke was recently forced to retract comments suggesting he opposed onshore wind farms.

Only 40 Tory MPs actively supported the government's climate change bill, with many others abstaining. Five Conservative MPs also voted against the legislation: Peter Lilley, Philip Davies, Andrew Tyrie, Ann Widdecombe and Christopher Chope.

The stance of some of his backbenchers represents a major challenge to Cameron's team, which last week unveiled a raft of new environmental policies pledging to cut government emissions by 10 per cent within a year, launch a new green infrastructure bank, and roll out incentive schemes to encourage people to recycle.

Should the Conservatives win the next election, the issue is likely to become even more challenging for Cameron, with polls showing that many of the new candidates standing in marginal seats are sceptical over green policies.

Labour seized on Davis' comments, arguing that they revealed the true nature of the Conservative's stance on environmental issues. "David Davis is representing the real views of David Cameron's Conservative party," Labour MP Emily Thornberry told the Guardian. "This is the party that persistently fails to take the tough action on climate change and regularly opposes wind farms as "bird blenders". David Cameron's cycling to work can't cover the fact that he lacks a real green agenda and the strength to stand up to the anti-green rump in today's Tory party."