THE battle of the greens between Gordon Brown and David Cameron, which is expected to continue in this Wednesday’s budget, is being won by the Tory leader, a YouGov poll for The Sunday Times has shown.

But the poll also indicates that most people are sceptical about the way politicians of all parties have latched on to climate change, and think it is a ruse to raise taxes. They also oppose some of the most high-profile green policies, such as Cameron’s proposal to increase taxes on flights or the government’s road-pricing plans.

In recent days, both Cameron and Brown have made speeches on global warming and the government published its climate change bill, committing itself to a 60% cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Cameron’s promotion of his green credentials since he became Tory leader appears to be paying off. Asked who was the greener out of Brown and Cameron, 21% plumped for the Tory leader and only 7% for Brown.

There was a sceptical response to the question of whether politicians were genuinely interested in climate change or using it as an excuse to raise taxes. By three to one, 63% to 21%, people thought it was merely a tax-raising ruse.

Fewer than one in five believe there is no need to change the way they conduct their lives, but 37% say climate change can be tackled only by international action. A similar proportion say Britain should act unilaterally.

Politicians are facing an uphill task persuading the public to accept individual measures to combat climate change. Higher petrol duties are opposed by 63%; 69% object to more congestion charging and road-pricing; and 60% are against Cameron’s proposal for an increase in taxes on cheap flights.

But there is support for higher taxes on large-engined cars, 66%, and respondents backed building more nuclear power stations by 42% to 36%. The overwhelming preference, among 91%, is for the use of technology, such as hybrid vehicles, to reduce carbon emissions.

While neither Cameron nor Brown has pulled decisively ahead on green issues, the Tory leader has reason to feel pleased with his overall poll ratings. The YouGov survey, carried out among nearly 1,900 voters on Thursday and Friday, shows the Tories have a six-point lead over Labour, 38% to 32%, compared with five points (37%-32%) a month ago.

That lead increases to 10 points, 41% to 31%, when people are asked how they would vote if Brown were prime minister, facing Cameron.

Poll findings such as this have increased nervousness among Labour backbenchers, although there is no sign yet that they are shifting towards a credible challenger to Brown such as David Miliband, the environment secretary. Some see Brown’s recent emphasis on green issues as partly a response to Cameron but also an attempt to claim Miliband’s territory.

Brown supporters insist they are relaxed about the Tory lead, which is small by the standards of past mid-term opposition. They say questions about how Brown would fare against Cameron are meaningless until people have seen how he would perform as prime minister.

By 55% to 31% people think the chancellor would do badly in No 10. Cameron fares better but not dramatically so: 37% think he would do well as prime minister, 43% badly.

The pollsters also asked about last week’s vote to renew Britain’s Trident nuclear deterrent, in which nearly 100 Labour MPs rebelled against the government. By 42% to 37% people think it is right to renew Trident.

Britain’s involvement in Iraq appears to have shifted attitudes to the role of UK troops overseas, however. Following a recent increase in casualties in Afghani-stan, 53% think the troops are serving no useful purpose and should be brought home.

The big winner is the Prince of Wales. Following a Channel 4 documentary last week, The Meddling Prince, YouGov asked whether Charles interferes too much in public affairs. By 60% to 31%, respondents said the heir to the throne has a right to speak out and should go on doing so.

But Charles still has a mountain to climb. By 42% to 36%, the poll also shows that people would prefer the royal family to “skip a generation” and for Prince William, rather than his father, to succeed the Queen.

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