Leaders at Calderdale council, sited in West Yorkshire, have voted to advocate serving only vegan food at its events, leading to criticism from rural campaigners.

The 51 council members stated that this move demonstrates its commitment to ‘leading by example’ as the authority aims to ‘stop climate change in its tracks.’

This policy change means that ham, bacon, beef, cheese, and dairy milk will no longer be served at any council events.

Councillors will have the opportunity to discuss the policy in a meeting before it is voted on and potentially implemented.

In response to the backlash, councillor Scott Patient, who proposed the motion, clarified that council enforcement officers would not be monitoring residents’ consumption of ‘wafer thin ham’ or preventing them from bringing their own milk to council buildings.

Council leader Jane Scullion, who supports the policy, emphasised that although she is not a vegetarian, the council is ‘doing its little bit’ to reduce carbon emissions. She added: “I don’t think the world is going to end if the council takes a small amount of responsibility.”

The Countryside Alliance, leading the opposition against councils banning meat and dairy, called the move “unnecessary.” Mo Metcalf-Fisher, its director of external affairs, argued that UK-produced red meat is among the most sustainable globally and is ‘something we should all be proud about’.

He urged: “We need our political leaders to reject this nonsense, back British farming and the vast majority of the public who enjoy meat and dairy as part of a balanced and healthy diet.”

During 2021, Oxfordshire County council faced significant criticism, including from farmer Jeremy Clarkson, when it banned meat and dairy at its events.

Other councils, such as Edinburgh city council, Norwich city council, and Haywards Heath town council, have signed the ‘Plant-Based Treaty,’ promoting vegan food over animal products. Labour-run Enfield council and Oxford city council have also voted to ban meat and dairy from their events.

Conversely, councils in Peterborough, Rutland, Cornwall, Suffolk, Wiltshire, Dorset, Portsmouth, and the Highland council in Scotland have passed motions opposing veganism campaigns. These councils commit to providing locally sourced produce, including meat, dairy, and plant-based products, to reduce food miles.