Farewell then Minette Batters
After 6 years in charge Minette Batters is standing down as President of the NFU, this week’s conference will be her last in charge and she is working as hard as ever, all over the media.
But she has been dealt a very bad hand for the last 6 years, up against a bunch of liars in government, who promised her industry the world and then betrayed them time and time again. The post CAP subsidies regime is a joke, food policy non-existent and the trade deals a stab in the back.
This year the conference will be addressed by the PM, who has already leaked “more help for farmers” which apparently means no new money at all but some technological future where robots will shovel muck.
I first interviewed Ms Batters before Brexit for a documentary on what it might mean for farmers, and interviewed her last week for an article on why farmers are so furious. Throughout she has predicted with unerring accuracy what was likely to happen, while having to put up with pompous, patronising Brexiteers who think they know more than everyone else about just about everything.
Plus ca change.
Economics, trade and Brexit, not necessarily in that order but the dog always comes first.
By Jonty Bloom Media
I have always been impressed each time I have heard her on the radio. She has always been clear sighted - a crap-cutter of the highest order. I hope that standing down does not mean she will disappear from view. We need more of her sort. I am not a farmer, but would want to say thank you MInette for your stalwart efforts.
She has been a shining light of sanity and I hope she continues to stick her fork into government of whatever colour.