Incumbent NFU vice president Adam Quinney has announced that he will challenge deputy president Meurig Raymond for presidency of the union in upcoming elections.

On Tuesday, (15th January), following Mr Quinney's declaration that he intends to stand for president, Essex farmer Guy Smith, who had also been standing, announced that he would be withdrawing from the race. Smith, who was nominated by his local NFU branch last year, had said his primary concern was to ensure that there was more than one presidential candidate standing in the election, to avoid an effective coronation.

Smith said in November that "'One candidate' elections do not make for good democracy," adding that there is a need for more than one candidate to enhance policy discussions within the union. He said he hoped his standing would encourage others to do the same.  

Current president Peter Kendall announced in October that he would be stepping down after serving four terms as president. Kendall went unchallenged in the last NFU elections in 2012 after the only other hopeful, Meurig Raymond, withdrew during hustings.

Elections are due to be held next month, and a new president will be selected on 26th February at the NFU Conference in Birmingham. Smith is still in the running for vice president. Nominations close on Wednesday (15th January) at 5pm.