Alliance hits back at a Yorkshire council banning meat and dairy

The Countryside Alliance has hit back as a Yorkshire council moved to ban meat and dairy at council events.

Labour-led Calderdale Council in West Yorkshire has voted through a proposal to only serve vegan food at future meetings and catered events, as part of a larger food strategy policy for the borough. The cabinet decision was approved by councillors at a meeting last Wednesday, despite receiving some opposition since first proposed in June.

Labour deputy leader and Cabinet member for Climate Action and Housing Councillor Scott Patient put forward the ‘hugely symbolic’ plan, estimated to impact six events a year.

Following earlier backlash and outcry online, he previously insisted council enforcement officers would not swoop in on residents to police whether they were eating “wafer thin ham”, nor would they block people from smuggling in their own milk to council buildings.

Yet, the plan received backlash from conservative and liberal democrat councillors alike, who raised concerns with the proposal’s ‘imposition of views’, its increase in food miles by importing certain produce, and nutritional deficiencies in vegan diets.

Conservative group leader Councillor Steven Leigh said: “It’s a unilateral decision to impose on people that choose to attend council events some food that may be not what they want to eat or like to eat – we don’t like the way it’s been done, we disagree with it.”

Liberal Democrat councillor Ashley Evans said: "I don't think the policy is necessary, I think it's making a statement."

Councillor Patient dismissed these concerns, claiming the policy upholds freedom of choice.

He said: “You don’t have to eat the food, but, you know what? Try it – you might like it!”

Mo Metcalf-Fisher, Director of External Affairs for the Countryside Alliance, said: “Calderdale Council’s decision – regardless of how many events it affects – ultimately sends a false and dangerous signal that livestock farming is to be blamed for climate change, and if one cares about the environment, they must undertake a vegan diet. This narrative coming from a Labour-led council comes in stark contrast to Steve Reed’s pledge that his party will ‘respect’ rural communities this time around.”

He added: “If the council truly cared about achieving net zero, it would commit to reducing emissions from food miles by sourcing local produce – be it meat, dairy, or plant-based – at all events, following on many other councils across the UK.”

Ten local authorities, including Suffolk, Cornwall, and Dorset, have voted in favour of the Countryside Alliance’s alternative motion, which commits councils to keeping meat and dairy on the menu and supplying produce from local farmers and growers, benefiting both livestock and arable farmers.