Opposition MPs have criticised the government's "scandalous" attempt to block an EU-wide target to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

Minutes of meetings from the council of ministers in Brussels last month have revealed that Britain tried to delete a proposal for developed countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 60 to 80 per cent by 2050.

Norman Baker, the Liberal Democrat environment spokesman, said: "It seems they are trying to water this down in a vain attempt to get President Bush to sign up to an agreement.

"But all the evidence from Iraq is whenever the prime minister tries to go halfway to please Bush he does all the giving and Bush does all the taking."

Meanwhile the Guardian reports that developers are turning against the deputy prime minister's plans to build new homes on recycled industrial land.