WIND farms can be “incredibly popular” and Tory opposition is pushing up energy bills, a Liberal Democrat Cabinet minister has argued.

Ed Davey, the Energy Secretary, vowed his party would continue to back onshore farms as part of a “dramatic increase” in renewable energy investment.

And he accused the Tories of a “potential abuse of the planning system” by blocking so many applications – and even overturning some given the go-ahead by local councils.

Speaking to the Telegraph & Argus, Mr Davey said opinion polls consistently showed about 65 per cent of people in favour of onshore wind, with opposition “in the single figures”.

And he said: “It’s a joke. Conservative opposition to onshore wind – and it’s an ideological opposition - is going to put people’s bills up.

“Onshore wind is currently the cheapest, large scale renewable energy, so if you don’t invest in that, you are going to have to invest in other, not so cheap renewable energy.”

Wind farms have provoked controversy in Bradford, with the Council forced to reject a Government minister’s suggestion that opponents are treated in ways that “sound shocking”.

The comment, by Mark Prisk, the then-planning minister, followed Shipley MP Philip Davies’ protest that the Labour-run authority was “imposing unpopular decisions”.

Meanwhile, a Council planning expert concluded that a part of Bradford had “reached the limit” for turbines when he refused a bid for one in the Thornton and Queensbury Landscape Character Area.

The Conservatives have pledged an effective moratorium on new onshore wind farms will be in place within six months of victory in May’s general election.

And Eric Pickles, the Conservative Communities Secretary, threw out 19 applications last year, stalling £500 million of investment by “the back door”, critics said, to ward off the UKIP threat.

Mr Davey argued the Coalition had introduced protections for local people, with compulsory “pre-consultation” by developers and larger “community benefits”.

The Energy Secretary also argued he was winning the war on high energy bills, arguing there were now some “fantastic deals” available.

Labour gained popularity when it pledged a 20-month price freeze, but Mr Davey accused Ed Miliband of doing “sweet FA” about the issue when he was in the energy post.

And he released figures suggesting no fewer than ten suppliers were now offering a dual gas and electricity fixed deal for under £1,000, in some areas.

Mr Davey said: “Energy bills have been coming down. If you go to fixed deals – one year, two years, sometimes longer - you’ve been able to make some fantastic deals.

“My prediction is that, by next October, the Big Six will have to cut their prices. It won’t be a price freeze, it will be price cuts - because of the competition we’ve introduced.”