University students overturn meat ban in victory for common sense and British farming

Following a recent decision taken by a small number of students at the University of East Anglia to ban beef on campus, a separate, larger group of students have campaigned to successfully overturn the controversial and illogical decision.

A new vote of the Students' Union Council held last week, saw some 53 per cent of the council voting to overturn the ban, while 36 per cent voted to keep it.

The reversal has been dubbed a victory for common sense and British farmers.

It came after backlash from students who said that it was "wrong and undemocratic" to have made the decision without consulting the rest of the University or holding a referendum.

It lso led to anger from farmers and from Jewish groups at UEA, who said that it would restrict what religious students can eat on campus.

The Countryside Alliance has been a vocal critic of the decision, writing an opinion piece for the East Anglian newspaper, to voice its concern.

Speaking in the Telegraph, a Countryside Alliance spokesman said: "Banning beef would have been the wrong thing to do. It would set a dangerous precedent.

"Universities should be sourcing local, sustainable grass-fed beef from UK farmers who are providing a solution to the very real concerns over climate change. Universities should instead look to reduce CO2 in other areas like excessive air travel."

Last month a Freedom of Information request revealed that the University of Cambridge had forked out million for over 17,000 flights abroad in 3.5 years, the same time that it had implemented a red meat ban, citing a need to lower carbon emissions.

The University has since been accused of hypocrisy and the Countryside Alliance, along with UK livestock farmers, organised a letter to be sent to the University's Vice Chancellor which called on the ban to be reversed in favour of purchasing sustainable, local red meat from UK farmers.