Witney MP Robert Courts and West Oxfordshire Conservatives have launched a petition calling on the county council to start supporting local farmers and food producers.

It comes after Oxfordshire County Council passed a motion - opposed by Conservatives but backed by Liberal Democrats, Labour and Greens - for all food at its meetings and events to be 'entirely plant based'.

The decision brought both praise and criticism with Jeremy Clarkson, who owns Diddly Squat Farm in Chadlington, joining local farmers outside County Hall to protest and tweeting that it was 'utter madness'.

The first of the vegan lunches was provided at County Hall last week, prompting Conservative councillors, led by Liam Walker, who represents Hanborough and Minster Lovell, to walk out in protest.

Around 15 Conservative councillors instead enjoyed a self-funded lunch at the nearby Slug and Lettuce pub and Mr Walker confirmed it 'contained meat'.

He said: "I'm all for veganism but we live in a democracy so should have freedom of choice.

Witney Gazette:

"Taking a step back I don't think we should serve councillors free food altogether. The fact that people this year have the difficult choice between eating and heating shows how out of touch it is."

He also hit out at the fact the county hall food was 'clearly' not locally sourced, saying of the fruit platter: "Last time I checked we don't grow melons in Oxfordshire".

Mr Courts agreed and said the Liberal-Labour-Green coalition running County Hall were "completely out of touch with the people of West Oxfordshire".

He said: “West Oxfordshire’s farmers are at the heart of our area’s identity and rural economy, while also maintaining our world-renowned countryside and the wildlife which inhabits it.

"While West Oxfordshire residents recognise the value of local farmers to our rural area’s economy and identity, those running County Hall seem intent on vilifying our local food producers.

“How can it possibly be environmentally-friendly to replace home-grown West Oxfordshire produce for mango imported from South America?

“Not only does their condescending attitude trample over West Oxfordshire’s rural heritage, it punishes our local farmers at a time when they most need our support.

“Our petition therefore calls on County Hall to start supporting our local farmers and championing their high-quality, nutritious produce.”

Green councillor Ian Middleton shared a picture of the plant-based meal served at the full council meeting on Twitter.

The Kidlington South councillor tabled the motion to ban meat and dairy in December.

Mr Walker said: “I think this new Lib Dem/Green/ Labour alliance have completely misread the room. Not only do they ban meat from Council meetings claiming it’s about tackling climate change, only for a few weeks later a cabinet member to jump on a plane to a climate change conference.

"Now they are boasting on Twitter about a vegan taxpayer-funded buffet at council meetings.”

Mark Lygo, lord mayor of Oxford, posted a photo of himself on Twitter boarding a plane at Gatwick Airport to attend a climate change conference in Oxford's twin city of Grenoble in France.

His decision to fly rather than take the train was criticised and called 'embarrassing' on social media.

The council defended its decision ‘because it’s quick and the meeting was important’.

A spokesman said he was travelling on ‘official business’ to update its twinning French city on ‘Oxford’s leading work on decarbonisation and other initiatives’ and that it remained a ‘low mileage council’.

The full text of the petition and how to sign can be found on the MP’s website here: www.robertcourts.co.uk/farmerspetition.