Forced out by 'bullies'

Former office-holder Hamish Waugh said: "It was with sorrow and a deep sense of foreboding that I learnt that George Milne had finally succumbed to the 'bully boy' tactics of a small handful of people who appear to be using the Scottish region of the NSA to further themselves at the expense of the greater sheep industry."

Mr Waugh heaped praise upon Mr Milne, dating back to his stepping up to the plate during the 2001 foot-and-mouth crisis, when as an immediate past chairman, he was better placed to attend short notice ScotGov meetings because the chairman at that time lived distant from Edinburgh.

"Following on from the outbreak, it became clear that with devolution there was a real need for the Scottish sheep industry to have its own voice in the Scottish Parliament and George was the obvious choice," said Mr Waugh, of Effgill, Langholm. "It was with immense pride, as one-time chairman of NSA Scotland, that I worked with George and quickly became aware of his strengths."

However, Mr Waugh suggested that, as chairmen have come and gone, ' a small core of people has developed who have found it impossible to let go of the power vested in them at successive NSA Sottish agms' – and blamed these people for making life 'intolerable' for Mr Milne.

"Consider the facts – three past occupiers of the chair have resigned from NSA Scotland's committee, while as of last week, three incumbent vice-chairmen have also found it impossible to go on in such circumstances, matters which seem to have been totally ignored by the staff or officers in Malvern," said Mr Waugh.

"With the uncertainties of Brexit and the real possibility of 5million lambs destined for France having a crippling tariff applied to them – along with the threat that the French might go back to opening and closing the doors on our lamb at will as they did in the 1960s and '70s – I would argue our sheep industry has never needed the counsel and experience that George has to offer more than we do now."

Mr Waugh added that 'valid' questions about NSA Scotland's future funding had been batted away at its recent agm, with the suggestion that the UK body would look after the budget: "Was this not a green flag for the controlling few to continue to spend?" he asked. "Would it not have been more appropriate to let the question take its course and for the enquirer to have an answer? Thus, opening up the potential for protocols to be put in place that might just allow NSA Scotland to survive until Scotsheep 2020, a year and a half away."

Fellow past chairman Rod McKenzie, of Muirton, Munlochy, echoed Mr Waugh's sentiments: "I was disappointed, although not altogether surprised, to read of George Milne's resignation from his post as development officer with the organisation.

“I believe that the majority of people involved in the sheep industry in Scotland will be unaware of just how much work George has done for them over the past 20 years. There are few folk who command the respect of their peers in the sheep industry through their experience and ability as much as George. In his time in office, he has forged close links with civil servants and elected officials.

“Without George fighting our corner, we are in a much more vulnerable position and I sincerely hope that another lobbying organisation can make use of his negotiating and debating skills.”

NSA chief executive, Phil Stocker, responded: “When we heard of George’s intention to resign, we explored different ways of maintaining a working relationship with him. Despite this, George decided it was time to stand down entirely and so we are working proactively with NSA Scottish Region, specifically the new officeholders elected at the annual members meeting last week, to ensure continuity at this time and effective representation of Scottish members within the complex policy situation that we find ourselves in with Brexit.”

Replying to the comments about officeholders and budgets, he added: “It is a priority for NSA to ensure our Articles of Association are conformed to and high standards of professional and financial management maintained.”