Paul Tompkins and Robyn Munt become deputy and vice-president respectively
Tom Bradshaw has been re-elected as NFU president, with two new figures appointed as deputy and vice-president.
Bradshaw, an arable farmer from Essex, has been part of the NFU officeholder team for six years and served as president for the past two. He held both the vice-president and deputy president positions before that.
He will be joined by Paul Tompkins as deputy president and Robyn Munt as vice-president.
Bradshaw said: “I am deeply honoured and extremely proud to have been re-elected president of this superb organisation. I would like to thank both David [Exwood] and Rachel [Hallos] for their commitment and service to the NFU and its members.
“The past 18 months have been among the most challenging in recent memory for British farming. Throughout this time, the NFU has been at the forefront of fighting for our industry and none of it would have been possible without our members.
”The success we have achieved has been down to working collaboratively and showing a united front. Together we have been stronger.
“With the support of the public, we will continue to campaign hard on our members’ behalf to ensure the right policies are in place in order to create an environment for a more resilient, thriving and profitable British farming industry, and secure long-term food security for the UK.”
The election took place after the AGM of the NFU Council, a representative body made up of its elected members, and followed the NFU’s annual conference in Birmingham this week.
Tompkins said: “It’s an incredible privilege to be chosen to serve as NFU deputy president at a time when British agriculture faces real pressures but holds even greater potential.
“Every farmer and grower, whatever their sector, scale or system, wants the same essentials: fairness, stability and the chance to build a future. Our union is at its best when it operates as a team, our members, officeholders and staff all pulling in the same direction, working with those that share our values.
”My focus is now clear – deliver practical results for farmers, work collaboratively, keep a sharp commercial outlook and build confidence across the farming community.”
And Munt said: “I’m incredibly proud and honoured to have been elected to represent Britain’s farmers as part of the NFU officeholder team.
“As a fifth-generation beef, sheep and arable farmer, I know what a challenging time it has been for the farming industry with confidence at an all-time low due to volatile costs, threats of disease and extreme weather.
“For me, the next two years are about working with our members to create a landscape for resilient, productive and profitable farming businesses to thrive so we can continue producing sustainable food for the nation alongside protecting and enhancing the great British countryside.”
