At the NFU conference this week, there was a fascinating juxtaposition of those who feel the need to make friends and influence, and those who clearly do not.
The government and Tesco fell firmly into the latter category, and brought responses ranging from disappointment to incredulity with some of their remarks, while David Cameron was in his element, talking to an audience he obviously felt at home with, and which was open to his Tory brand of rural charm and wit.
Lucy Neville-Rolfe was thrown headfirst onto the black run by Sir Terry’s unfortunate ski-ing injury. And her hapless attempt to slalom through the course she was forced to negotiate saw her take out just about every flagpole going on her way down. She alienated the dairy industry, then the poultry and beef crowd, before telling fresh produce suppliers that some growers really shouldn’t expect to make a decent return.
Before her, Defra minister Hilary Benn also did little to ingratiate himself, with a typically blinkered focus on the environment that continues to misinterpret or simply ignore the realities of farming in the UK.
Tomorrow’s man Cameron dutifully ripped into the government and slated the retailers’ role in disconnecting the farmer from the consumer.
This time Dave the pretender had it served up on a plate for him. But will his policies match his rhetoric if he ever gets the chance to wield real power? It would be interesting to find out.
No comments yet