A LIBERAL Democrat MP in North Yorkshire has called on the Government to increase "green taxes".

Labour MPs voted down a Liberal Democrat call for a greener tax system, with the Conservatives abstaining.

The opposition day motion called on the Government "to increase green taxes on new high-emission cars and on aviation while using revenue generated to cut direct taxes, particularly on low earners, so that there is no overall rise in the burden of taxation."

Phil Willis, Lib Dem MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, said: "It is quite clear that the other parties have little to offer on the environment. Monday's debate was the opportunity to show the country what proposals the Conservatives and Labour have and yet they failed.

"For all David Cameron's rhetoric and PR stunts, the Conservatives have not put forward a single specific policy on the environment. In the meantime, Labour has been going backwards presiding over a rise in carbon emissions.

"The other parties' failures make the Liberal Democrats' Green Tax Switch campaign all the more important.

"It is vital that we continue to press the case for practical proposals to change our behaviour, benefiting those who change the most and making our society more sustainable."