The headline says: Fed Farmers cosy up to Labour.
The opening paragraph says:
Federated Farmers, usually considered an ally of the National Party, has come to a Labour Party annual conference for the first time.
Both are wrong.
Feds doesn’t cosy up to Labour and it’s not an ally of the National Party.
Unlike unions it is not aligned to nor an ally of any political party.
It may have more in common with parties towards the right of the political spectrum than those on the left because the former have more respect for property rights and a better appreciation of free trade and a freer economy.
But having things in common doesn’t make it an ally.
Feds is stronger because it is not allied to any political party. It’s there to advocate for its members and lobby in their interests. To do that effectively it engages with a variety of organisations, including political parties.
That’s not cosying up. It’s getting its message across to influence policy on behalf of its members but not trying, as unions do, to advance the organisation’s own political agenda.
Homepaddock 
Wow, that was a prompt response for a Sunday morning HP! Must have touched a raw nerve.
To think that the rest of us always thought Federated Farmers were the National Party in gumboots. Wrong again.
Actually farmers are the last True (Blue?) Socialists. Their co-operatives (real, live socialism there) needed special legislative protection, delivered by the last National government.
And Zespri is now desperately trying to retain its monopoly seller status. That terrible Mr Gibbs seems hell-bent on paying kiwifruit growers more! Can’t have that.
But don’t worry, Fonterra will hold out against those awful capitalists until the death. Its special status was delivered by the last Labour government, and should have done the trick. But hang on, didn’t I hear some journos this very week suggesting special treatment from this government? Surely not.
Cozying up to Labour? Mmmm, well… sounds like farmers are too far to the Left for most of those at Rotorua this weekend.
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“Actually farmers are the last True (Blue?) Socialists”
That reminds me of a comment made during a succession planning seminar: the two last bastions of communism are Cuba and the family farm.
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Well said, HP. Must dig out Orwell’s Animal Farm and 1984 again, in case Feds get totally carried away….
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I’ve thought for years that as soon as MMP came in Fed farmers should set up their own electorate-only party. A Farmers’ party would easily win all the rural electorate seats in perpetuity – while all the party vote went to National.
Under MMPs rules this would give the Farmers’ party about 20 MPs without taking any away from National at all.
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A farmers party wouldn’t win a single electorate – even if they could agree on a philosophy, which I doubt, there simply aren’t enough to win an electorate.
And sadly not all farmers have the good sense to vote National:)
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