CUMBRIA’S farmers will not be silenced on the national stage.

That’s the promise from Alistair Mackintosh, despite being defeated in his bid to land the National Farmers’ Union’s top job.

Alistair Mackintosh wanted to become president of the NFU – one of the most influential positions in British farming.

That challenge failed at the union’s annual conference in Birmingham this week when, at the last minute, Mr Mackintosh pulled out of the presidency race and was unsuccessful in his bid to land the deputy president’s post.

While disappointed, Mr Mackintosh believes it is a priority that Cumbria – one of the country’s biggest farming regions – should have greater influence on shaping national policies.

“I am disappointed and quite emotional about it,” Mr Mackintosh told The Cumberland News , “but we must move forward and find some way to support the union’s top table and keep them focused on the issues.”

Meurig Raymond, a mixed farmer from Pembrokeshire, will lead the NFU for another two years. Minette Batters, a livestock farmer from Wiltshire, was re-elected deputy president and Guy Smith, a farmer from Essex, was re-elected vice president.

Mr Mackintosh, a beef and sheep farmer from Ravenglass in west Cumbria, said: “We tried and were unsuccessful, but I appreciate the support I had from my region and it goes without saying I will continue to fight for Cumbria.

“It is important we maintain the pressure to ensure our region is represented at the highest level.”

Kirkoswald dairy farmer Les Armstrong, who has supported Mr Mackintosh in his bid for the top job, said: “I am extremely disappointed that Alistair was unsuccessful. Cumbria is feeling quite isolated and it would have been a big help to have someone from here on the union’s top table.

“The top team are going to have to work extremely hard in the next few months to ensure Cumbrian agriculture has a future.”

After his re-election, Mr Raymond told The Cumberland News he hoped Mr Mackintosh would continue his extremely valuable work with the NFU.

“I can understand the frustrations in Cumbria’s farming community,” he said. “Living in Pembrokeshire we also have to deal with not having the better milk contracts too.

“We need to build on what has been achieved over the past two years and convince the policy-makers, retailers, consumers and society of the importance of food production and British farming and that we, as farmers, can help to grow the rural economy.

“After hearing how much support there is from consumers in supporting the Back British Farming campaign, I know this is a good foundation to build on.”