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PM 'reneges' on commitment to protect tenant farmers from solar takeovers, TFA warns

At the now infamous NFU Conference in 2023, Sir Keir Starmer said solar energy infrastructure should not come at the expense of tenant farmers and food production. But TFA chief executive George Dunn said a recent outcome for tenants in North Yorkshire would suggest otherwise

Chris Brayford

18 September 2025 鈥� 5 min read

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Sir Keir Starmer, at NFU Conference 2023, said: "We have got high hopes for solar energy in our green prosperity plan. But we cannot do it by taking advantage of tenant farmers, farmers producing good British food on carefully maintained, fertile land. They cannot plan properly if the soil beneath their feet is not secure."

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has failed to honour a commitment to the agricultural sector prior to the General Election that solar energy schemes would not come at the expense of tenant farm businesses,...

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