David Cameron denies 'backsliding' on the environment

Prime minister rejects suggestion by liaison committee that government is failing in its approach to green energy, climate change and flooding

David Cameron has defended his government's record on the environment and climate change, saying suggestions of backsliding are "total and utter nonsense". The prime minister also told the liaison committee, made up of MPs who chair select committees, that the government needs to do "more of everything" to deal with the flooding that has repeatedly hit the UK in recent years.

Cameron, who pledged in 2010 to lead the "greenest government ever", has faced concerted criticism over a series of reversals to green policies, including cuts to renewable energy subsidies and energy efficiency programmes. In November, the government cancelled its 1bn competition for carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology, despite the project being in the Conservative party's election manifesto.