Kendall faces challenge for leadership of NFU

Somerset farmer Derek Mead aims to end Peter Kendall’s hopes of serving for a third term as NFU president.

Having accepted a nomination to run for NFU president, Mr Mead will challenge Mr Kendall for the leadership at the union’s elections next month.

He has previously stood for president in 2004 and deputy president in 2006.

Mr Mead believes the union should take a tougher stance when dealing with DEFRA and Britain’s big supermarket chains.

He is also expected to campaign for a one-member, one-vote electoral process.

Union rules mean Mr Kendall must secure 75% of the vote from the union’s 93-strong council because he has already served two consecutive terms as president.
If he fails to do so, he will be ousted.

For the same reasons, incumbent NFU deputy president Meurig Raymond must also secure 75% of the vote to stay in office and fend off challenges from former vice-president Paul Temple and NFU dairy board chairman Gwyn Jones.

Meanwhile, Yorkshire farmer Rosey Dunn could become the NFU’s first female vice-president. A beef, sheep and arable farmer from Stockton-on-Forest, Mrs Dunn accepted a nomination to stand from her local union branch.

Officeholders will be elected immediately after the union’s annual conference and AGM in Birmingham on 23-24 February 2010.