All change at top of the NFUS

DUMFRIESSHIRE farmer Andrew McCornick has been elected the 62nd president of NFU Scotland. Mr McCornick, previously a vice president at the union, takes over one of the top jobs in Scottish agriculture.

The elections took place at the union’s council meeting at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Glasgow, on Tuesday February 7.

The union’s AGM, conference and annual dinner was staged at the same venue the day before.

In the vote, Mr McCornick secured the presidential spot, after a keenly-fought election contest which saw him run against sitting president Allan Bowie and fellow vice president Rob Livesey.

Perthshire farmer Martin Kennedy and Gary Mitchell from Wigtownshire are the union’s new vice presidents. The unsuccessful vice presidential candidate was Lanarkshire’s Tom French.

After the election, NFU Scotland’s new president Mr McCornick commented: ‘There are difficult and challenging times ahead but I have been given a mandate by members to represent them. I see the membership as part of the team and I am honoured to carry their message forward. It is a big operation to get our views on the importance of Scottish farming in to the highest places in government so let’s get stuck in. We are on a mission to take this industry forward so let’s make it count.’

The presidential position is held for two years and a president can serve a maximum of two consecutive two-year terms.

Under the terms of the constitution, Mr Kennedy and Mr Mitchell, elected as vice president for the first time, will initially serve for two years before the post reverts to an annual election.