EXCLUSIVE - Kevin Hollinrake: "The energy transition should not become the accelerator pedal for hollowing out British farming"

Conservative Party Chair Kevin Hollinrake writes on the launch of his campaign, 'Food Not Solar', to ensure that productive farmland is never used for solar infrastructure. Will you back his campaign?

clock • 4 min read
Thirsk and Malton MP Kevin Hollinrake said: "I do not support a system that treats prime farmland as the path of least resistance. As things stand, Government policy is failing farmers, failing food security and failing rural communities. Food production is as central to national resilience as energy generation, roads or water supply."
Image:

Thirsk and Malton MP Kevin Hollinrake said: "I do not support a system that treats prime farmland as the path of least resistance. As things stand, Government policy is failing farmers, failing food security and failing rural communities. Food production is as central to national resilience as energy generation, roads or water supply."

It takes generations to establish productive agricultural land. Generations. Decades of careful husbandry. Investment in drainage and soil structure. LISTEN NOW: Crop rotations designed to...

To continue reading...

Already a member? Login for full access.

Login

New to Farmers Guardian? Register for 1 free article per week or become a member for unlimited access to essential farming news and insights.

article-img-580x358
Register for free Join Now

 

More on Politics

Gov scraps mandatory public consultation on data centres amid ongoing concerns for the countryside
Politics

Gov scraps mandatory public consultation on data centres amid ongoing concerns for the countryside

The changes are expected to cut pre-application time by up to 12 months and save developers £1 billion on major infrastructure projects

Mia Willemsen
Mia Willemsen
clock 08 July 2026 • 3 min read
Defra breached law when allowing farmers to use bee-killing pesticides, watchdog finds
Politics

Defra breached law when allowing farmers to use bee-killing pesticides, watchdog finds

The assessment process for emergency authorisations of pesticides is now to be updated following the investigation by the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP)

Mia Willemsen
Mia Willemsen
clock 07 July 2026 • 2 min read
Council vows to protect its county farms
Politics

Council vows to protect its county farms

Suffolk County Council's cabinet member for food, waste and rural affairs said county farms are 'much more than a line on a balance sheet'.

Rachael Brown
Rachael Brown
clock 06 July 2026 • 2 min read