News
Staff Member
And so, the NFU is upon us, and our chosen delegates will have to select a new President. And according to all the pundits, it’s gonna be that blonde maid Minette.
This matter doesn’t altogether please me.
I am a member, although I play no part in local or national NFU doings or politics*, so it’s hardly surprising that I know just about nothing the actual workings of the AGM. I’m not in the least whingy about this. It’s my choice not to be much involved, which is fine.
*I am quite often used by regional staff, on matters where they feel my input might be of use, and lend a hand wherever I can. And by writing for them, I suppose I’m giving my tacit support. They are, by a country mile, our most efficient lobby group. I know from personal experience that the NFU does far more for all of us than is generally recognised.
And so…. I don’t know who is representing me at the AGM, to vote for office bearers on my behalf. Obviously, I might very well know the individuals personally, but I don’t know who is doing the voting.
In case any of them are reading…here’s my take on it.
For the first time in a while, a candidate has presented himself who has already caught my ear on numerous occasions. Guy Smith is, and clearly has been, a practical farmer to his boot straps. Through his exposure in both the conventional media, and lately the techno social meja –such as this very forum, he is well known to many farmers, and not a few outside farming. I note he was the other farmer quoted when I was interviewed for an article in the Financial Times t’other day. And as ever, he acquitted himself pretty much faultlessly.
He’s never failed to impress that he absolutely gets the matter under discussion, is on message, and never holds back from speaking up for the UKs farming industry. He’ll take on those individuals, organisations and lobby groups who might be at odds with us, head on. He is lucid, straight, and succinct, and is clearly speaking from the proverbial coalface. A greater advocate I could hardly imagine.
The fact that he generally manages to present all this with a gentle wit and a wry smile can only be a good thing.
I have met him, and found him the same in person. It is of note that I’ve never had the impression that he’d talk down to me, or fail to represent my interests, because he is an arable farmer in a very different environs to a peasant hill farmer on rain soaked Dartmoor.
By contrast then. I know practically nothing about Minette. She’s been in the public eye for some years, but hasn’t made any kind of impression whatsoever. The fact that her camp is touting her involvement in something called ‘Ladies in beef’ as one of her big selling points probably says more about her than I can. I’ve nothing against her as a person, and I’m sure she is very earnest, but I’m not even just ‘unimpressed’. I’ve never picked up anything she’s said or done which instilled me with any confidence that she is the woman for the job.
And the idea of voting for someone because it’s time to change the gender of the office bearer is an abhorrent lunacy. The fact that she keeps cattle, geographically nearer to me than Guy should not, and does not, make any difference.
So, my trusted representatives, we’re facing a very turbulent period –unprecedented in my lifetime. I would rather you placed our fate and faith with @Guy Smith .
Note: All content from Anton is supplied to us directly and can be read in other publications such as the Western Morning News
This matter doesn’t altogether please me.
I am a member, although I play no part in local or national NFU doings or politics*, so it’s hardly surprising that I know just about nothing the actual workings of the AGM. I’m not in the least whingy about this. It’s my choice not to be much involved, which is fine.
*I am quite often used by regional staff, on matters where they feel my input might be of use, and lend a hand wherever I can. And by writing for them, I suppose I’m giving my tacit support. They are, by a country mile, our most efficient lobby group. I know from personal experience that the NFU does far more for all of us than is generally recognised.
And so…. I don’t know who is representing me at the AGM, to vote for office bearers on my behalf. Obviously, I might very well know the individuals personally, but I don’t know who is doing the voting.
In case any of them are reading…here’s my take on it.
For the first time in a while, a candidate has presented himself who has already caught my ear on numerous occasions. Guy Smith is, and clearly has been, a practical farmer to his boot straps. Through his exposure in both the conventional media, and lately the techno social meja –such as this very forum, he is well known to many farmers, and not a few outside farming. I note he was the other farmer quoted when I was interviewed for an article in the Financial Times t’other day. And as ever, he acquitted himself pretty much faultlessly.
He’s never failed to impress that he absolutely gets the matter under discussion, is on message, and never holds back from speaking up for the UKs farming industry. He’ll take on those individuals, organisations and lobby groups who might be at odds with us, head on. He is lucid, straight, and succinct, and is clearly speaking from the proverbial coalface. A greater advocate I could hardly imagine.
The fact that he generally manages to present all this with a gentle wit and a wry smile can only be a good thing.
I have met him, and found him the same in person. It is of note that I’ve never had the impression that he’d talk down to me, or fail to represent my interests, because he is an arable farmer in a very different environs to a peasant hill farmer on rain soaked Dartmoor.
By contrast then. I know practically nothing about Minette. She’s been in the public eye for some years, but hasn’t made any kind of impression whatsoever. The fact that her camp is touting her involvement in something called ‘Ladies in beef’ as one of her big selling points probably says more about her than I can. I’ve nothing against her as a person, and I’m sure she is very earnest, but I’m not even just ‘unimpressed’. I’ve never picked up anything she’s said or done which instilled me with any confidence that she is the woman for the job.
And the idea of voting for someone because it’s time to change the gender of the office bearer is an abhorrent lunacy. The fact that she keeps cattle, geographically nearer to me than Guy should not, and does not, make any difference.
So, my trusted representatives, we’re facing a very turbulent period –unprecedented in my lifetime. I would rather you placed our fate and faith with @Guy Smith .
Note: All content from Anton is supplied to us directly and can be read in other publications such as the Western Morning News