Kennedy for president – of NFUS!

With a promise of no Donald Trump-like manoeuvres from retiring president Andrew McCornick, NFU Scotland looks almost certain to be led by Perthshire hill farmer Martin Kennedy from next February.

With the deadline for nominations for the position of president now closed, the union yesterday revealed that no names other than Kennedy’s had been put forward for the position – and it only remained for the union’s council to ratify his election at the annual general meeting in February.

However, there will be a hot contest for the union’s two vice-presidential posts – with four candidates now throwing their hats into the ring to join the union’s top table during what is likely to be one of the most turbulent periods in its history.

The four contestants are Forth and Clyde regional chair Willie Harper; Lothian and Borders regional chair Robin Traquair; North East regional chair Andrew Connon; and Fife farmer and former National Sheep Association development officer, George Milne. The union said that as it would be impossible to hold the normal round of hustings meetings to allow members to judge who they wanted to serve as vice president, these would take place virtually towards the end of January.

The union’s chief executive, Scott Walker said that similarly, the AGM and conference itself would take place in a virtual format – adding that a company dedicated to on-line elections was being hired to conduct the election procedures for the new vice presidents.