NFU Scotland’s regional hustings tour is set to kick off next week. Members can hear from three candidates up for two vice presidential positions at one of the 10 dates set.
This year, three candidates are standing for the two vice president roles within NFU Scotland travelling the length and breadth of the country to speak to members in hope of clinching some undecided voters.
The hustings will start on Monday, January 7 at McDiarmid Park, near Perth and over the course of the following 16 days, the candidates will also speak at meetings in Stepps, Tarbert, Castle Douglas, Carfraemill, Galston, Inverurie, Kirkwall, Lerwick and Dingwall.
- January 7: East Central, McDiarmid Park at 7:30pm;
- January 9: Forth and Clyde, Garfield Hotel, Stepps at 7:30pm;
- January 11: Argyll and Islands, Stonefield Castle at 1:30pm;
- January 14: Dumfries and Galloway, Ernespie House Hotel, Castle Douglas at 7:30pm;
- January 15: Lothian and Borders, The Lodge, Carfraemill at 7:30pm;
- January 16: Ayrshire, Maxwood Hotel at 12:30pm;
- January 17: North East, Kintore Arms, Inverurie at 7:00pm;
- January 21: Orkney, Ayre Hotel, Kirkwall at 7:30pm;
- January 22: Shetland, Shetland Hotel, Lerwick at 7:30pm;
- January 23: Highland, Dingwall Mart at 7:00pm.
Voting for the positions of the two vice presidential posts will take place at the union’s council meeting at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Glasgow on Friday, February 8, 2019.
The union’s AGM, conference and annual dinner will be staged at the same venue the previous day (Thursday, February 7).
Current vice president Martin Kennedy, livestock chairman Charlie Adam and combinable crops chairman Ian Sands have put their names forward to contest for the vice-presidential positions.
President Andrew McCornick said: “It is an extremely uncertain time for Scottish agriculture, so there has never been a more important time for members to get out to these hustings, listen to the candidates and make sure their vote counts.
“I wish each one of the candidates the very best and urge them to make the most of this fantastic, if hectic, round of meetings.
All three candidates have the skills and experience to do a fantastic job for NFUS and Scottish agriculture and this is their opportunity to convince members they have a role to play as we tackle the major challenges ahead.
“With Brexit decisions looming and future agricultural policy in the UK and Scotland up for debate, we need the right people in place to drive forward policies that are in the very best interests of our farmers and crofters.”
