National Trust urges members to vote on new UK-wide cafe rule
National Trust members will "vote" on a UK-wide change to make all cafe menus 50 per cent plant-based. Jacob Rees-Mogg, the Conservative Party figure, has slammed plans for 2.6 million members to decide on increasing the share of vegan and vegetarian options.
Members are being invited to vote on a plan to make 50 per cent of the food in its cafes vegan and vegetarian as part of the charity’s commitment to reach net zero by 2030. Cafe menus at the trust’s 280 historic sites are already 40 per cent plant-based.
The resolution, which was brought by a member and is being supported by the charity, will be voted on at the trust’s annual general meeting on 2 November, with online votes due in by 25 October. Rees-Mogg branded the move “a silly, attention-seeking proposal that won’t have any effect unless the National Trust decides to ration meat”.
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The National Farmers’ Union president, Tom Bradshaw, said: “What we eat is a personal choice and not something which is imposed,” he said. “Decisions should be made in an informed way taking into consideration the nutritional, environmental and biodiversity benefits that eating a balanced diet including meat and dairy provide.”
A National Trust spokesperson emphasised that the charity was “keeping dairy, eggs and meat on the menu, and continuing to work closely with farmers”. She added: “We want our cafes to be more sustainable and we want to keep serving a great variety of food while meeting the changing preferences of our visitors.
"We estimate two-fifths of our menu is currently plant-based and we can move to half being so in the next two years.” The move from the group comes amid a gradual push for the UK to become net zero - but it has sparked fury and threatened to risk a culture war row.