In his speech to the Liberal Democrat party conferencein Glasgow, Davey singled out Conservative environment secretary Owen Paterson as trying to“cull” wind turbines.

He accused those Tories who are opposing windfarms and other green energy policies as being “irresponsible” in their claims.

Davey's words again highlight tensions within the UK's ruling coalition that some commentators have blamed for adding to a sense of uncertainty around national energy policy.

Officials