Downing Street says it does not recognise phrase attributed to PM, and says he is not ditching commitment to environment

This article is more than 6 years old

This article is more than 6 years old

Downing Street has said it does not recognise reports that David Cameron ordered aides to "get rid of all the green crap" from energy bills in a drive to bring down costs.

According the Sun, the prime minister used the direct language to dismiss green levies, which go towards paying for renewables and helping the poor cut their usage.

He has already promised to roll back green costs, which currently make up £112 of the average bill, over concerns about the record energy prices.

It comes at a time when the coalition is under pressure over the cost of living, as Ed Miliband said he would freeze energy bills for 18 months.

However, Cameron's focus on green levies has caused fear among green groups and some Liberal Democrats that he is retreating further from his pledge to run the greenest government ever.

Downing Street denied the "vague" report, saying they did not recognise the language when asked about the phrase "green crap".

However, they did not appear to deny the sentiment, pointing out Cameron has repeatedly promised to roll back to green taxes.

The Sun quoted an unnamed senior Tory source as saying: "The prime minister is going round Number 10 saying: 'We have got to get rid of all this green crap'. He is totally focused on it.

"We used to say: 'Vote blue, go green', now it's: 'Vote blue, get real'."

There is likely to more detail in next month's autumn statement about which green taxes will be axed or moved into general taxation. More than half are linked to schemes to cut energy usage among the poor.

The deputy prime minister, Nick Clegg, inflamed the row on Thursday by saying the green cost on bills "isn't all crap".

He said the coalition was working hard to take environmental levies off bills and believes the phrase is not a fair reflection of Cameron's views.

However, he made matters worse by suggesting: "Of course, it isn't all green crap."

Craig Bennett, campaigns director for Friends of the Earth, said: "It would come as little surprise if David Cameron did tell aides to ditch the 'green crap' - his government has been attacking environmental policies for years.

"The reality is that protecting the planet and building a strong economy are two sides of the same coin.

"The best way to protect cash-strapped households from soaring fuel bills is to end the nation's dependency on increasingly costly gas by investing in energy efficiency and home-grown renewable power."