The four seats up for grabs were won by Lynn Atack, a CAMRA volunteer from Doncaster; Gillian Hough, a CAMRA volunteer from Derbyshire and a member of the Derby Winter Ales Festival organising team as well as various CAMRA national committees; Ash Corbett-Collins, a CAMRA volunteer from Birmingham and national co-ordinator of CAMRA’s Young Members’ Group; and Nik Antona, a national executive member re-standing for election.
National Executive election results
Lynn Atack – 8,491 (14.9%)
Gillian Hough – 6,608 (11.6%)
Ash Corbett-Collins – 6,083 (10.7%)
Nik Antona – 6,054 (10.6%)
Bradley Cummings – 5,573 (9.8%)
Chris Stairmand – 5,473 (9.6%)
Alexander Wright – 5,472 (9.6%)
Ian Hill – 5,226 (9.2%)
Nicholas Hair – 4,151 (7.3%)
Greg Cloney – 3,715 (6.5%)
Commenting on the outcome, CAMRA outgoing national chairman Colin Valentine said: “I’m delighted to welcome back Nik and those candidates newly elected to the national executive.
“My fellow directors and I now face one of the biggest challenges in CAMRA’s history, ensuring the outcome of the revitalisation vote is properly reflected in our objects and activities and to make sure CAMRA remains an effective, relevant and successful organisation - which reflects the wishes of its members.”
The ballot saw Tiny Rebel Brewery co-founder and CAMRA volunteer from Cardiff, Bradley Cummings miss out on a seat by a 0.8% share of the vote.
As reported by The Morning Advertiser, Cummings had vowed to axe JD Wetherspoon discount vouchers in his election manifesto over concerns that they devalue cask beer.
Despite Cummings missing out on a seat on the national executive, the stance against discounts received clear support at the AGM.
Members in attendance offered strong backing to a motion stating that pubs and breweries should not be expected to give discounts or be criticised when they failed to do so. The motion did, however, recognise the freedom of pubs and breweries to offer discounts if they wished.
Former chairman of the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA), Buster Grant, outlined that amid increasing financial pressure on publicans and brewers, it seemed perverse that some CAMRA members insisted on demanding discounts.
“Not only is this culture eroding the margins that can be earned, but it threatens the stability of the supply chain and counters the aims of this organisation. It also creates a negative feeling about CAMRA.”