George Eustice gives candid insight on Westminster

Politicians at the highest levels of government are often no better equipped to make decisions than anyone else, former Defra secretary George Eustice has said.

Speaking during a Women in Agriculture Network Ask Me Anything session, Mr Eustice offered a candid reflection on his time in Westminster, explaining that one of the biggest surprises of his career was how decision-making works at the top.

“The closer you get to the middle of power, the more you realise they are actually no better at making decisions than a group of people on a local council or on a board of directors,” he said.

“You keep thinking you’re going to go to the next level and find a cast of really, really impressive people, but they’re never quite as impressive once you get to know them as you think.”

Mr Eustice also revealed he chose not to stand again as an MP partly because he had grown increasingly at odds with the Conservative Party on a number of issues, including trade, agriculture policy and wider political decisions.

Alongside his reflections on politics, Mr Eustice shared strong views on the future direction of farming policy, profitability and the effectiveness of farm lobbying organisations such as the NFU.

He warned that recent changes to the Sustainable Farming Incentive risk holding back farmers and nature recovery, and argued that long-term profitability will depend on structural increases in farmgate prices driven by global pressures on food production.

Members of the Women in Agriculture Network can watch the full session on Staypost.

To join the network, visit web.staypost.app/women-in-ag