THE government will become one of its own “enemies of growth” if it bans new solar panel farms on most agricultural land, supporters of renewable energy said today.

Environment Secretary Ranil Jayawardena is reportedly considering changing the classification of farmland which can be used for solar panels because they impede his plans to increase agricultural production.

Chris Hewett, chief executive of the trade association Solar Energy UK, said that blocking new solar power would place the government in the “anti-growth coalition” Prime Minister Liz Truss identified at the Tory Party conference last week.