Region’s farmer set to fight for top NFU posts

Driffield farmer Paul Temple has signalled his intent to stand as both vice-president and deputy-president for the union at its forthcoming elections.

He will face Kevin Attwood and incumbent Meurig Raymond in the ballot for the deputy-president’s job while the ballot for the vice-president job will also feature Mr Attwood and Mr Temple, alongside Jonathan Brant, Gwyn Jones, Alistair Mackintosh, Adam Quinney and Anthony Rew.

NFU president Peter Kendall will stand unopposed for the top job, with rumours that Mr Raymond would challenge him having come to nothing.

Voting will take place next month with the winner announced at the NFU’s annual conference on Wednesday, February 22.

Mr Temple, who farms near Driffield in East Yorkshire, was vice-president of the union until 2009 when he stepped down for personal reasons.

However, he is now once again seeking high office within the NFU and said his experience would stand him in good stead for performing the role.

Mr Temple told the Yorkshire Post: “I have submitted nominations for both positions. The reason I am wanting to stand is because I really passionately care and love farming.

“As a farmer, I think the NFU is the best organisation to try and solve some of the problems we are facing.

“Over the next two years Common Agricultural Policy reform will be high on the agenda and we will be trying to ensure that this actually works for farmers. The big issue is how we see this as a country. We have seen in the past Scotland and Wales going down different routes while English farmers have ended up with a system which puts them at a disadvantage some of the time. We would like to see these circumstances corrected.”

Mr Temple is the only Yorkshire-based farmer on the ballot this year but said that his background was incidental in terms of his qualifications for the role.

“I do not think where you come from matters,” he said. “What is really important is the experience you bring to the job.

“I feel I do have an innate understanding of farming issues. I have spent eight years working in Europe, it is that wider experience of working across Europe that will be really important.”

Mr Temple admitted the race would be “difficult to call” but said he was surprised no-one would be standing against Mr Kendall for the top job.

The big summit

The NFU conference takes place at Birmingham’s International Convention Centre on February 21 and 22.

Among those scheduled to appear are current Defra secretary Caroline Spelman, business secretary Vince Cable and the European Union’s agriculture commissioner Dacian Ciolos.

NFU director of policy Martin Haworth said: “The NFU’s annual conference is one of the most important events in the agricultural industry calendar.”