Farmers stage sausage roll protest over vegan menus as Jeremy Clarkson claims council meat ban ‘Stalinist’
Former Top Gear presenter claims plans to serve only plant-based food at Oxfordshire council events ‘utter madness’
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Your support makes all the difference.Farmers handed out sausage rolls and bacon outside council offices in protest against plans to serve only vegan food at events as part of a climate push branded “Stalinist” by Jeremy Clarkson.
Demonstrators called on Oxfordshire County Council to support “local food and farming” and ditch proposals for more plant-based meals.
Councillors last year backed a move to stop serving meat and dairy at official events as part of efforts to tackle the climate crisis.
The proposals - set to be rubber-stamped by cabinet members next month - would also ensure school lunches have plant-based menus available at least twice a week.
But the move has sparked anger from local farmers, who on Monday took their protest outside Oxfordshire Council Council, which is run by a coalition of Liberal Democrats, Labour and Greens.
One demonstrator, John Richardson, told the BBC: “British farmers have produced quality, sustainable food. We’re not here to make a stand against vegetarianism or veganism, just trying to promote the good food we produce.”
Richard Binning, a beef farmer from Steventon, added: “The message they are sending out is really dangerous - they are suggesting it’s ok to eat avocados from Brazil, instead of our wholesome British beef.”
The demonstration received prominent support from Jeremy Clarkson, who tweeted: “Farmers of Oxfordshire. I wish I’d know about your protest today. I’d have been there like a shot.”
The former Top Gear presenter claimed the plans to serve only vegan food at councils were “utter madness,” adding: “Why are Liberal Democrats always Stalinist?!
Liz Leffman, the leader of Oxfordshire County Council, said the push towards plant-based meals was “about councillors taking a stand to tackle climate change and saying we want to make our planet more sustainable”.
She added: “We want agriculture to be sustainable and we will source produce locally wherever we can.”
Last year, an in-depth study found meat and dairy products were reponsible for twice as many emissions as plant-based foods.
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