Brown attacked for backtracking on renewable energy target

12.13.42pm UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 25th Oct 2007

Gordon Brown has been warned not to "rat" on EU pledges to generate 20% of energy from renewable sources by 2020. In an exchange at Prime Minister's Questions today, acting Lib Dem leader Vince Cable asked Mr Brown: "If the government is fully committed to the 20% target for Britain, why did his own energy minister go on television yesterday and say he wanted it cut from 20% to 10%, under pressure from the nuclear lobby? Vince warned the PM could end up looking "less green than Blair".

It is now clear that the government is trying to backtrack on its promise to generate a fifth of our electricity from renewables by 2020. The promise was clearly made by David Miliband, and it is dishonest to suggest that the 20% target agreed at the Brussels summit should not apply to Britain. Every member state has to do their bit. Ministers must not be allowed to wriggle out of these firm commitments.