5 July 2013 BBC News

Wind power firms warn they may take the government to court if they get caught in a political row over subsidies.

After conducting technical studies, the energy department proposed a subsidy cut of 10% for power from onshore wind.

But the chancellor is under pressure from back-benchers to scrap subsidies, and is said to favour a 25% cut.

The industry body, Renewable UK, says it may take legal action if the government makes a decision that overrides its own technical evidence.

"It's really important this process is seen to be evidence-based and rational," said Gordon Edge of Renewable UK.

"The government took technical guidance on this issue. If at this point the government says we are going to do less for onshore wind than it proposed that will be seen as nakedly political.

"Mr Edge told BBC News he believed that the industry might have a case for judicial review if the cut exceeded 10%. The government has previously lost in the courts over policies on solar and nuclear.

View the full article at BBC News