A GROUP of councillors went for a ‘meaty lunch’ in a boycott against vegan meals on a council menu.

In March, Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet voted to serve entirely plant-based meals at full council meetings and all civic events.

Currently, there are seven meetings of full council each year – meetings for all 63 county councillors.

The divisive call was made despite the presence of Jeremy Clarkson and other local farmers protesting outside the county hall.

READ AGAIN: County council will now serve vegan food at meetings and school lunches

Yesterday, rather than sample the vegan food on offer, county councillor Liam Walker was among local politicians to have lunch at the Cow & Creek pub, opposite county hall.

Mr Walker told the Oxford Mail: “It was a spur of the moment thing. We planned on going out for lunch anyway, but with it being a packed meeting and as it’s across the road, we decided to pop in and have a meaty lunch.

“There was steak, chicken burgers, and I enjoyed a chicken and bacon salad.

“It’s a boycott, it’s about freedom of choice. This is nothing against vegetarians or vegans.”

READ AGAIN: Councillor calls for meat to be put back on the menu

A proposal to put meat back on the menu wasn’t discussed at the meeting as it overran, but Mr Walker said the motion would be back on the agenda at the next opportunity.

He said: “We’ll be bringing back the motion again, we’re determined to get it heard.

“We’re a rural county, and we want to support our farmers.”

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This story was written by Liam Rice, he joined the team in 2019 as a multimedia reporter.

Liam covers politics, travel and transport. He occasionally covers Oxford United.

Get in touch with him by emailing: Liam.rice@newsquest.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter @OxMailLiamRice