“Stop Drinking Milk! UK Households Urged to Ditch Semi-Skimmed, Skimmed, and Full Fat Options, You Won’t Believe Why

Nigel Farage has criticized Gloucestershire County Council’s campaign encouraging residents to switch from cow’s milk to plant-based alternatives, calling it “complete nonsense” and labeling supporters of the idea “global warming lunatics.”

Speaking to GB News, Farage said, “I was offered oat milk or skimmed milk. I didn’t want to cause a scene, but I just want cow’s milk. What is wrong with this?” The council’s “Swaps in Seconds” campaign suggests small lifestyle changes, such as using oat or soy milk instead of cow’s milk, to help reduce environmental impact.

Councillor David Gray, the cabinet member for the environment, explained that the campaign isn’t anti-dairy. “We’re not saying avoid milk entirely,” he said. “It’s about making small changes to reduce methane emissions, which are significant in dairy production.”

However, local farmer Jacob James criticized the campaign for overlooking key details about UK dairy farming. “The guidance is based on incomplete evidence. When you consider all factors, the carbon impact of UK dairy farms is about one kilo per litre, similar to oat milk at 0.9,” he said. He also noted that the number of dairy cattle in the UK has significantly decreased since the 1980s.

A spokesperson for Gloucestershire County Council clarified, “Our campaign offers suggestions for small, eco-friendly swaps in food, transport, and clothing. We didn’t intend to offend or discourage people from supporting local farmers. We encourage everyone to continue buying local milk and other produce.”