Worcester mayor says 'no meat' allowed at his receptions

Councillor Louis Stephen, the city's Green Party mayor, revealed he decided to remove meat from the food offered at receptions in the Mayor's Parlour at Worcester Guildhall because of the climate emergency. 

The city's first Green mayor also argues that plant-based food is 'more inclusive' as many non-Christians do not eat pork.

STANCE: Louis Stephen, the Green mayor of Worcester, has taken a stand for the planet by having vegan and vegetarian only options at his receptions after full council meetings (Image: Supplied)

However, Cllr Alan Amos, himself tabled a question at Worcester City Council's full council meeting at the city's Guildhall last night, about why meat has been removed, calling the decision 'outrageous'.

It is the custom after full council meetings for councillors to retire to the Mayor's Parlour for refreshments but the Conservative councillor for Bedwardine says it is discrimination not to cater for meat-eaters.

Cllr Stephen, a Green councillor for Battenhall, said: "It is the mayor’s prerogative to decide what food and drink will be offered.

"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.

"Additionally, in sharp contrast with the old practice of offering things like ham sandwiches, plant-based food is far more inclusive. Everyone can eat plant-based food but many non-Christian people don't eat pork."

CHALLENGE: Cllr Alan Amos, himself a former mayor, has asked if Worcester City Council can still call itself inclusive if meat eaters are not catered for at receptions (Image: Worcester City Council)

Cllr Amos argues that meat-eaters are about 93 per cent of the population but alternative provision is invariably made for vegetarians and vegans.

He asked in his pre-submitted question: "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?

"Who made this decision? Who else was consulted? Is this another example of the tyranny of the illiberal Left?"

Cllr Amos, who served as Mayor of Worcester between 2014 and 2015, said he always tried to make sure during his term that all were catered for, whether they were vegans, vegetarians or ate meat.

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He 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.

"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."

She argued that fuller details would be provided at the full council meeting which had not taken place when Worcester News went to press.