Yorkshire MP David Curry still does not know why he was 'sacked' as chairman of Dairy UK, a body which argues with government on behalf of all sides of the industry.
It was announced after the annual meeting, on September 10, that he had been replaced by his former deputy, Mark Allen, chief executive of processing giant Dairy Crest.
This week, Mr Curry told the Yorkshire Post he had been asked to go quietly. B
ut, he said: "I refuse to connive at the fiction that I resigned when I was quite clearly sacked, for the first time in my life and for reasons which are still a complete mystery to me."
The Skipton and Ripon MP was called in to be an 'independent chairman' after the body was set up, with government encouragement, to replace one which represented only the processors.
The MP was on holiday in France when Mr Allen unexpectedly flew out to meet him for lunch in Bordeaux in August. Mr Curry said: "He told me he had been asked to stand as chairman and I didn't want to wreck the organisation by standing against him when clearly it was all stitched up."
Gwyn Jones, chairman of the NFU dairy board, became one of the 12 members of Dairy UK through his role in another body, the Dairy Farmers Forum. He has resigned in protest.
He said: "Dairy UK was not able to discuss anything meaningful, like prices, but it did some useful things and I was prepared to go along with it under an independent chairman. But clearly the processors want it to be their organisation, on the grounds that they pay for it.
Jim Begg, director general of Dairy UK, said: "We did not see it as a sacking. It was always envisaged that Dairy UK would eventually run itself, with a chairman from within the industry, and it was felt the time had come. David Curry was asked if he would stay on in some other capacity and we still hope that is possible."
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