Minette Batters
The Diplomat
People, composure and the difficult conversation held well.
Minette Batters is a prominent leader in British agriculture, advocating for the interests of farmers and the rural community. This interview highlights her ability to navigate complex issues and foster collaboration among diverse stakeholders in the agricultural landscape.
“It was interesting, wasn't it? The royal visit to France and the reception that he got. I mean, I do think he's been an extraordinary leader in this area because he was talking about it long before it was trendy and fashionable and actually faced a lot of ridicule. I've been to Highgrove.”
“It's been beyond extraordinary when I came in in 2014, David Cameron was Prime Minister. Referendum wasn't even really being talked about. In fact, the first day I was in office, we headed off to Brussels. For meetings with member states, then obviously we had the referendum.”
“I'm often referred to as a general secretary, which is sort of amusing. We're not a trade union. We're a membership organisation. So we're a trade association and we're an organization that is led by farmers for farmers, but we're backed by technical expertise within our staff.”
“So the other thing was that we were farming in partnership back then with my landlord. So it was a set time. He had a partnership that was going to last 25 years. He knew that would end and there was no succession. So that was another part of it for him, that he knew it would end.”
The Rest Is Politics: Leading — 40. Minette Batters: The Most Powerful Farmer in Britain
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