Mead confirms NFU leadership challenge

Mr Mead, who stood for president in 2004 and deputy president in 2006, said he was frustrated that the NFU was ‘not being tough enough’ under Mr Kendall, particularly in its relations with supermarkets and Defra.

Mr Mead, who has often been an outspoken critic of the NFU leadership in the past, said he would also campaign on one-member, one-vote. He added that he felt NFU members in the South West were being ‘poorly treated’ by the NFU.

Mr Kendall, who will need 75 per cent of the vote to be re-elected for a third two-year term under NFU rules, said he welcomed the prospect of a proper leadership contest.

“This demonstrates the vibrancy of the NFU. It is healthy that we can have a proper debate and an exchange of views as we elect the new team,” Mr Kendall said.

He said he was confident the NFU was getting ‘stronger and more effective’ under his leadership but said that there was ‘lots more work’ he wanted to do.

Two candidates, former vice president Paul Temple and dairy chairman Gwyn Jones, have confirmed they will challenge Meurig Raymond for the deputy president post, with at least one more expected to put his name forward. At least eight names are in the frame for the vacant vice president role.

The elections for the three officeholder posts will be decided by the 93-strong NFU council at the end of the union’s conference and AGM, in Birmingham, on February 24.

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