The first Green Party mayor of Worcester has been criticised for removing meat from the menu at mayoral receptions to be more ‘inclusive’.
Councillor Louis Stephen said that only vegetarian or vegan food would be available after full council meetings at the Mayor’s Parlour in Worcester Guildhall. He argued that plant-based food is “more inclusive” as many non-Christians do not eat pork.
Cllr Stephen, who represents Battenhall ward, stated: “It is the mayor’s prerogative to decide what food and drink will be offered.”
He added: “I’m mindful of the gravity of the climate emergency, and as leader I think it’s right to highlight the importance of all of us doing what we can to mitigate the seriousness of the emergency, by offering plant-based food.”
He also pointed out that “switching from meat reduces your carbon impact”. Adding: “Everyone can eat plant-based food but many non-Christian people don’t eat pork.” The decision was labelled “outrageous” by former mayor Alan Amos at a full council meeting on Tuesday (February 20).
The councillor asked: “Why has a decision been made to deny any choice for the 93 per cent at post-Council receptions by instructing that no meat option for the 93 per cent should be provided?” He questioned: “Who made this decision? Who else was consulted? Is this another example of the tyranny of the illiberal Left?”
The councillor, who was a mayor between 2014 and 2015, added: “We always had an option for vegetarians and an option for vegans.
“Certainly, when I was mayor, I would make sure there was an option for everybody, including vegetarians and vegans. We are not an equal, inclusive and diverse council if we do not provide a choice to everyone.”
He added: “This is not about me. I’m too fat and I eat too much anyway. I just won’t go to these events anymore.
“But the principle is an important one – we can’t say we’re an equal, inclusive and diverse council if we make a policy decision not to provide any meat option at our catering functions. That is absolutely outrageous. It’s discrimination.”
Lynn Denham, joint leader of Worcester City Council, said: “The choice of refreshments is the mayor’s choice. It’s not a council decision. When my husband was mayor he made sure bottled beer was available.”
The mayor’s choice to go meat-free at six big events a year has caused quite a stir, but the council’s rules for other gatherings haven’t changed.
Green councillor Marjory Bisset, joint leader of the city council, hit back saying he did not believe it was a “diversity and equality issue”.
She explained: “I do not think not being able to eat meat at a particular event is a diversity and equality issue. There are only six such meetings a year, is it really such an imposition to be deprived of meat on these six occasions?”
