Letter to Oxford Mail: Dairy hypocrisy at Oxfordshire council

Following a meeting of Oxfordshire County Council last week where councillors debated an unpopular ban on meat and dairy, a letter from the Countryside Alliance has been published in print by the Oxford Mail.

Dear Editor

For anyone tuned into the recent full meeting of Oxfordshire County Council, it would have been hard to miss the extraordinary admission from Liberal Democrat councillor Bethia Thomas during the debate on ending the current anti-farming ban on meat and dairy and council events and meetings.

Cllr. Thomas admitted to bringing in dairy milk to meetings, even offering it to thirsty colleagues, despite voting to ban dairy in the first place and reaffirming her support for it in a second vote last week. We all know the benefits of dairy- as clearly Cllr. Thomas does- especially when it is sourced from local farms, so why-oh-why does the council insist on stubbornly continuing with this illogical, discriminatory policy?

It has driven a wedge between the administration and local farmers, who work incredibly hard to produce sustainable food while protecting our countryside.

Despite Cllr. Liz Leffman, the council leader, clearly being frustrated at the ongoing campaign to overturn the ban, we shall not be standing down or going away and will continue to push to have it overturned and replaced with an inclusive alternative.

Local livestock farmers deserve better from their council and people should be free to choose what they consume, without hindrance from any local council.

Mo Metcalf-Fisher

Countryside Alliance

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