Scottish Conservatives leader Ruth Davidson has been confirmed as a speaker at next month’s NFU Scotland annual meeting.
Ms Davidson joins a packed line-up of political speakers, which includes First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy and Connectivity, Fergus Ewing.
The Tory leader will close proceedings on the first day of the two-day event, which takes place on February 6 and 7 at the Radisson Blue Hotel in Glasgow, and discuss Scotland in a post-Brexit landscape.
Mr Ewing will speak ahead of the union’s showcase annual dinner on the evening of the first day, while Ms Sturgeon will address conference delegates on the morning of the second day. Mr Ewing will then join the First Minister for a question and answer session.
NFU Scotland said the focus of the conference debate, which takes on the opening day, would be the implications of Brexit on Scottish agriculture.
“The exciting conference programme that day will also include sessions on how innovation may provide the key to farm businesses surviving and thriving and see agricultural and environmental stakeholders map out their vision for future farm support systems post-Brexit,” added the union.
“On Tuesday, voting for the positions of president and two vice-presidential posts will take place at the union’s council meeting, with six members contesting the election.”
All six candidates have just finished a round of hustings events across Scotland.
The three contesting the role of president are current president Allan Bowie, who farms in Fife and Stirlingshire, and his two vice-presidents – Andrew McCornick, who farms in Dumfriesshire, and Borders farmer Rob Livesey.
There are three names in the hat for the two vice-presidential jobs.
They are: Forth and Clyde regional chairman Tom French, who runs a mixed enterprise near Biggar; less favoured areas committee chairman Martin Kennedy, who runs a beef and sheep farm near Aberfeldy; and Dumfries regional chairman Gary Mitchell, who runs an 800-cow dairy unit near Stranraer.
