Fears of north-south NSA divide amid move to oust Waugh

Published on Tuesday 24 November 2009 21:50

EVIDENCE of a rift within the National Sheep Association has emerged with a move to oust Langholm-based hill farmer Hamish Waugh from his position as chairman of the finance committee.

The ambush by three English members of the five-man committee may have been numerically successful but Waugh, as one of the three trustees of the NSA and also as the elected treasurer, will remain in office.

Yesterday, Waugh said that he would remain in situ at least up until the next annual general meeting, which will not be held until June 2010.

NSA national chairman Jonathan Barber was reluctant to comment on the issue, saying the meeting was confidential and that he was unaware of any issue that had brought it about.

However, there has been a record of unrest between factions within the NSA north and south of the Border following an issue on the electronic identification of sheep in the summer.

That was followed by a vote of no confidence in the national chair and the chief executive, Peter Morris. These, Barber said, had both been overwhelmingly defeated by the national council.

The NSA operates with a devolved system and, as such, there is a Scottish section with a chairman, committee and development officer. Despite this, there have been grassroots moves by Scottish members to separate from the national body, but Waugh said he was not of that mind.

"The NSA has a foothold in every organisation at present," he said, comparing this position with that of the Scottish Beef Cattle Association, which has no seat in discussions with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

There will no doubt be huddles of sheep farmers at today's Winter Fair discussing the issue, but one prominent sheep farmer from the north-east of England will be urging Scottish members not to move towards independence. Hans Porksen, Morpeth, a former chair of the NSA Northern Region committee, said he would back Waugh to the hilt on his ability and also on his attitude that sticking together was better than breaking up the association.

His view was supported by other committee members who spoke to The Scotsman yesterday.