Environment groups challenge George Osborne over 'deeply offensive' Taliban slur claims Saying they would be seeking an "apology at the very least," Mr Bennett called on Mr Osborne to give a full explanation of his reported words. The fact that we are sending this letter today shows we believe it is deeply offensive. If he did make a comparison with the Taliban, it is not clear whether the Chancellor was referring to MPs, individuals or organisations such as ours. We would like to hear from the Chancellor urgently. If it is true, we want to know who specifically he is speaking about. We would certainly be seeking an apology at the very least, and an explanation. Pointing out Mr Osborne's words come just a few weeks after Chief Whip Andrew Mitchell was caught allegedly shouting heated words at a policeman, Mr Bennett added it could be interpreted as a sign of an "increasingly desperate Government." "Does this mean that whenever they disagree with people, they shout insults rather than engaging in reasonable, evidence based debate?" he said. It does suggest that the Chancellor has made his mind up after talking to just a small group of individuals rather than people across society and the economy. It suggests he is a Chancellor who is rejecting a scientific, evidence-based approach to policy. It comes after Osborne, David Cameron, Nick Clegg and Danny Alexander met yesterday to thrash out details of the legislation with Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Davey. Mr Davey is said to be pushing for a legally binding commitment to the total amount of carbon that can be emitted by power stations by 2030, in order to "bind in" the Government to renewable energy. The Liberal Democrat minister has also been arguing that the Treasury should guarantee loans that energy companies will need to invest in new renewable and nuclear power stations.