In Justin King and Peter Kendall, the National Farmers’ Union conference yesterday served up two major industry figures on their way to pastures new. The overriding mood at the conference therefore – and despite the occasional heated exchange around controversial issues like the badger cull, flooding and the Common Agricultural Policy – was one of reflection.
Both King and Kendall used their speeches to look back at key developments during their long tenures and also found plenty of kind words about each other’s achievements. Kendall was a steadfast leader who had challenged supermarkets on behalf of British farmers, King intoned, while Kendall cited Sainsbury’s commitment to British pork as a prominent example of retailer best practice in his opening speech.
It was in marked contrast to the more combative mood at last year’s conference, when an embattled Philip Clarke faced up to angry farmers in the midst of Horsegate. Indeed, it was notable that Kendall used his final NFU conference speech to single out retailers only for praise. Although he delivered a hard-hitting message to government about the need for a proper UK food strategy, his message to retailers had a much softer tone – highlighting positive change rather than naming and shaming those he felt are falling short in their support for British agriculture. (Though the fact that Asda was the only major retailer not to get a name-check in Kendall’s speech won’t have gone unnoticed.)
However, with a major session on “Who’s Backing British?” scheduled for the conference tomorrow – featuring senior execs from Tesco, Morrisons and The Co-op - perhaps stronger messages directed specifically at retailers are yet to come. The real buzz among delegates, though, was about the likely next moves of the two keynote speakers. Despite rumours and expectations of high-profile appointments, both have been decidedly tight-lipped on where they’d like to take their careers next – and, as a result, have opened up plenty of room for speculation.
Kendall’s plea to the government, during a Q&A session, that great care be taken to pick the right person to become the next EU agriculture commissioner, quickly sent tongues wagging. Could it be the NFU man has his eye on the role for himself? Not that Kendall provided any further clues.
He did, however, categorically rule out one option: a Brussels sprouts picker in his youth, he has no plans to go back to picking sprouts, he told the conference. So there. You heard it here first.
For the time being, therefore, expect the guessing game about Kendall’s – and King’s – futures to continue.
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