MPs from both the coalition Christian Democrats and opposition right-wing Liberals (VVD) have urged the environment minister Jacqueline Cramer to stop subsidising green lobby groups claiming they do not carry out their research properly.

The retail council said this weekend that poor research by Milieudefensie into the origin of wood used to make garden furniture could damage retailers. ‘Let them find their own funding,’ said VVD MP Charlie Aptroot.