Tories promise 'energy revolution'

The UK needs a "new industrial revolution" to tackle climate change, the Conservatives have said.

Speaking at the party's conference in Blackpool, shadow environment minister Greg Barker said Gordon Brown had a "backward" attitude to the environment.

"Nothing better illustrates his rigid, 1980s mindset, his backward-looking programme, his total lack of understanding of the new economy, than his total disinterest in the environment," he said.

"In 21st century Britain, only one party has the imagination and now the policies to lead a new industrial revolution... and that's us."

During a debate on the findings of the party's quality of life policy review group, shadow environment secretary Peter Ainsworth promised a revolution in the way energy is produced.

He proposed a "power station waste heat levy" to penalise waste and encourage the capture and use of heat created by the station.

The Tories would adjust "distorting subsidies" for on-shore wind farms, he said, ensure competitive tariffs for renewable technologies and allow households which switch to renewable energy to sell spare power back to the national grid.

"Our aim is to create real incentives to drive the market," he said.

He acknowledged that the work of the quality of life group, led by former environment secretary John Gummer and policy adviser Zac Goldsmith, had received "mixed reviews".

But he said the report overall was a "groundbreaking piece of work".

One proposal, to tax cars parking at out-of-town supermarkets, has come in for particular criticism from party members at Blackpool and had been ruled out by party leader David Cameron.

Goldsmith admitted at a fringe meeting on Tuesday that he had failed to present the policy properly. "It is possible we got the judgement wrong there," he said.

Shadow chancellor George Osborne said in an interview on Tuesday that money from green taxes would be placed in a "family fund", to ensure increases are matched by reductions for families.