Cameron reportedly tells aides to “get rid of the green crap” in preparing 2015 manifesto

According to an unnamed Tory source, prime minister David Cameron has told figures inside the party to abolish the green levies that fund renewables and help the poor with their bills.

According to the Sun, the source said: “He’s telling everyone: ‘We’ve got to get rid of all this green crap’.”

The revelation comes after Cameron already performed a stunning U-turn by pledging to repeal the green taxes, which currently add roughly £110 to the average energy bill, under pressure from Labour’s plans to freeze energy prices for 18 months.

If Cameron goes ahead with these moves to curb the environmentally friendly policies, he would be reneging on the election promise to be the “greenest government ever”.

A popular election slogan championed by Cameron was “Vote Blue, Go Green” but according to the Sun the Tory source said: “It’s ‘Vote Blue, Get Real’ now – and woe betides anyone who doesn’t get the memo.”

Downing Street has since moved to distance itself from the quote, with an official statement calling the Sun’s report “vague” and that it didn’t recognise the phrase “green crap”.

However, Downing Street stopped short of denying that Cameron was embarking on a U-turn over his green pledges, fuelling the fear of environmental groups that they will be axed.

Friends of the Earth’s campaign director, Craig Bennet told the Guardian: “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 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.”

Joe Turnbull