Britain has witnessed the dramatic slide of environmentalism down the political agenda. As he prepares to travel to South Africa today the green credentials of Mr Huhne's own government are being questioned at home. The Prime Minister's decision to cut funding for household solar energy has sparked a revolt of business leaders, councils, environment campaigners and unions. His aide Steve Hilton, who suggested the husky trip, has told officials he is "not sure" he believes the climate-change theory. Mr Hilton has become a big fan of the former chancellor Nigel Lawson, one of the most persuasive and vocal critics of the global warming lobby. The two have discussed the issue. Environmentalists fear there is now a lack of political momentum behind the green agenda. --Brian Brady and Matt Chorely, The Independent on Sunday, 4 December 2011