
Council in hypocrisy row over vegan-only menus
Oxfordshire county council banned meat, dairy and eggs from all its catered events in 2021, citing climate change.
Now the Lib Dem authority has admitted serving imported oranges and bananas at council lunches, despite telling others to reduce their ' food miles ', a concept aiming to keep produce local to benefit the environment.
It comes despite the council contributing to the Oxfordshire Food Strategy, a set of sustainability guidelines for councils, businesses, community groups and individuals, which call for 'reduced food miles' in the county.
A council spokesman said: 'While we do try to source food locally there have been occasions, particularly in the winter months, when food such as oranges and bananas have been sourced from further afield. All other fruit is British-grown.
'We need to balance sustainability against the wish to serve councillors a balanced menu which is nutritious and healthy.
'Oranges and bananas are bought in small quantities from local shops. Such shops would source these oranges and bananas from various locations.'
After concerns were raised that it was breaching the environmental guidelines, the council has been forced to review its vegan menu.
The Countryside Alliance has called for the council to reverse its ban on meat entirely. Mo Metcalf-Fisher, its director of external affairs, told The Telegraph: 'It never made sense to ban grass-fed beef from a farm up the road, to only source fruit from South America, for example.
'British meat is vastly sustainable and the answer to cutting emissions lies with supporting and promoting our farmers and their produce, not policing what people eat.
'Oxfordshire's leadership should right the wrongs of the past, mend their relationship with local farmers, and reverse this illogical meat ban as swiftly as possible.'
In 2021, the council passed the meat and dairy ban submitted by Ian Middleton, a Green party councillor, because it was 'in the interest of the health of our planet and the health of our people'.
Pictures of the first plant-based lunch posted by Cllr Middleton on X showed a spread of fruit, including melon, mango, kiwi and pomegranate, alongside sandwiches, pastries and chocolate cake.
The decision outraged farmers, led by Jeremy Clarkson, of Clarkson's Farm fame, who said: 'It's the principle of it. You can't dictate. You might be a vegetarian but you can't make everyone else a vegetarian just because you are.'
Bethia Thomas, a Lib Dem councillor, called for the council to rethink its catering policy at a full council meeting on Tuesday.
In a written question, she claimed 'meals have not been sourced locally, and do not promote sustainability or wholly reflect the policies set out in the food strategy which the council endorses'.
She called for the council to use local produce 'to reflect the county's rural economy and our farmers' role in food production'. About three quarters of Oxfordshire's land is used for farming.
Liz Leffman, the council leader, said she has asked for the authority's facilities management team to 'review the current arrangements for full council lunches'.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Sun
14 minutes ago
- The Sun
Donald Trump spotted with son Eric at luxury Turnberry resort during five-day Scotland visit
DONALD Trump has been spotted playing golf at his luxury Turnberry resort this morning alongside his son Eric. The US President, 79, arrived aboard Air Force One at around 8.30pm last night for his five-day private visit to Bonnie Scotland. 1 After waving to the crowds, he met the welcoming committee, which included Scottish Secretary Ian Murray. He was then whisked away in his armoured motorcade to his exclusive Turnberry golf resort on the Ayrshire coast. Villagers waved as the convoy passed through nearby Kirkoswald and later arrived at the resort at around 9.30pm. And he has wasted no time in taking to the green after being seen teeing off at the luxury resort this morning. Donning a white USA baseball cap, he has been joined by his son Eric as he enjoys the Turnberry's Ailsa course. Mr Trump was spotted being escorted down to the course on a golf buggy, with a convoy following close behind. Mr Trump is set to spend the weekend at his two golf resorts - Trump Turnberry and Menie in Aberdeenshire. During his stay, he will officially open his second course at Menie, named in honour of his late mother, Mary Anne MacLeod. His visit is expected to last until Tuesday, July 29. The President is also scheduled to meet Scottish First Minister John Swinney and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer during his trip. A massive £5million security operation has been rolled out to ensure his safety, with around 6,000 police officers drafted in from across the UK to support the efforts. His visit is expected to spark mass protests around his golf courses and in major Scottish cities. More to follow... For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Scottish Sun. is your go to destination for the best celebrity news, football news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Like us on Facebook at and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheScottishSun.


The Sun
14 minutes ago
- The Sun
Woman turned away from Wetherspoons for wearing Union Jack dress ‘absolutely disgusted' over policy
A WOMAN sporting a Union Jack dress was turned away from a Wetherspoon's pub amid anti-immigration protests. Tanya Ostolski said she had been refused service from The Picture House in Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire for her patriotic style on Friday. 2 2 At first the 54-year-old said she was refused entry for carrying a St George's cross flag. However, even after she'd put the flag in her bag, they still refused to let her in which she said was attributed to her Union Jack dress. It has left her concerned that she might be barred in future. She told Nottinghamshire Live: "It's our flag, it's our nation's flag. I wasn't being aggressive or anything, I didn't get lairy or anything. "I put the flag back in my bag, and they said I can't come in because of my dress." Wetherspoon spokesperson Eddie Gershon said: "Pub managers have a duty under the licensing laws, and as a matter of common sense, to judge every situation on its particular circumstances. 'In this case, the pub manager felt that it was important not to increase tensions. 'Therefore, on this occasion the manager asked customers not to enter with flags or any placards.' It came amid an anti-illegal immigration demonstration in the town, as protesters gathered 50 metres away from the pub. Protests began at around 4.30pm and had ended by around 7pm. 'Epping migrant protester' is arrested at home as ring of steel ramps up They were sparked by local Reform MP Lee Anderson who has made an unfounded claim that a man charged with rape in the area is an asylum seeker. The claim regards a man who was arrested after reportedly raping a woman at Sutton Lawn. Anderson made the claims on X, despite being advised against it by Nottinghamshire Police as it could interfere with the justice proceedings. An estimated 300 people attended the protest, with around a dozen counter protesters from Stand Up To Racism present. Anger was directed towards Sir Keir Starmer, with people chanting "stop the boats". At one point in the evening, police guarded the entrance to the Wetherspoon pub after protesters like Tanya complained about being turned away. The popular pub chain's "no-flag policy" has seen it face backlash in the past. During the 2018 World Cup it faced backlash after several of its venues were asked not to display England flags, or any other nation's flag. Instead, all 32 nations were represented on bunting decorating the pubs. This policy was changed for the 2024 Euros, during which the pubs were permitted to display flags.


The Independent
43 minutes ago
- The Independent
Security operation under way on first full day of Trump's visit to Scotland
A major security operation is under way on the first full day of US President Donald Trump's visit to Scotland. The President is expected to take to the greens on the golf course at the Trump Turnberry resort, which he bought back in 2014. Ahead of that, a large number of police and military personnel have been spotted searching the grounds at the venue in South Ayrshire. Various road closures have been put in place, with limited access for both locals and members of the media. Mr Trump is staying at Turnberry for the start of a five-day private visit to Scotland which will see him have talks with both UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Scottish First Minister John Swinney. A meeting has also been scheduled for him to talk about trade with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen on Sunday. With no talks apparently scheduled for Saturday, the President – a well-known golf enthusiast – appears to be free to play the famous Turnberry course. However, protests have been planned, with opponents of Mr Trump expected to gather in both Edinburgh and Aberdeen later on Saturday, with the Stop Trump coalition planning what it has described as being a 'festival of resistance'. As well as visiting Trump Turnberry, Mr Trump will head to Aberdeenshire later in his visit and is expected to open a second course at his golf resort in Balmedie. As he landed in Ayrshire on Friday, the President took questions from journalists, telling Europe to 'get your act together' on immigration, which he said was 'killing' the continent. He also praised Sir Keir, who he described as a 'good man', but added that the UK Prime Minister is 'slightly more liberal than I am'. Saturday will be the first real test of Police Scotland during the visit as it looks to control the demonstrations in Aberdeen and Edinburgh, as well as any which spring up near to the president's course. The force has asked for support from others around the UK to bolster officer numbers, with both organisations representing senior officers and the rank-and-file claiming there is likely to be an impact on policing across the country for the duration of the visit. Before the visit started, Mr Swinney appealed to Scots to protest 'peacefully and within the law'.