Green campaigners have responded angrily this afternoon to blocking tactics deployed by a small number of MPs to stop a parliamentary vote on the Daylight Savings Bill, which had held out the promise of an independent report and potential trial on moving the clocks to create lighter evenings.

The bill, which had been tabled by Rebecca Harris MP, secured strong cross-party support and the approval of the government.

But it failed to pass its third reading in the House of Commons after it was talked out by a group of around 10 MPs, including Conservative MPs Jacob Rees-Mogg and Christopher Chope, who tabled a series of "wrecking amendments" that ensured the bill never reached a vote.

Writing in response to the result, Daniel Vockins, head of the Lighter Later campaign to change the clocks, slammed the move as an "affront to the democratic process".

"Even with over 120 supportive MPs in the Commons, the support of 90 national organisations, the UK government and strong public opinion polls, a couple of hostile MPs were able to run down the clock with a series of 'wrecking amendments' designed to waste time, so the bill never even went to a vote," he said. "The tricks they use to hold up the process – from quoting the Bible to hiding in the Commons toilets – are an affront to the democratic process."

He added that the campaign to change the clocks – which according to research could cut annual carbon emissions by around 500,000 tonnes while also providing a boost to the tourism and hospitality sectors – would continue with the group calling on the government to now take up the legislation.

"Given the strength of support behind our cause we're calling on the government to either give the bill more time, or for the minister Ed Davey to conduct a proper review of the evidence for change himself," he said.

Supporters of the bill were particularly angered by the fact it was blocked despite the legislation being specifically tailored to address the concerns held by opponents to changing the clocks.

The bill would not enable an immediate change of the clocks, but would instead require the government to commission an independent report on the costs and benefits associated with the proposed change.

If the report recommended changes to the clocks the government would then introduce a three-year trial period for the change, but only if the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland approved the plan.