Woke students students have foisted veganism on their peers at one of Britain's most prestigious universities. Just under 4% of students signed a petition to make plant-based menus the standard offering across all bars, canteens and cafes on campus. The changes, which come into effect next academic year, were slammed by rural campaigners who branded the system a "misleading and unfair demonisation of meat and dairy consumption".

Southampton University, part of the elite Russel group, now becomes one of 20 universities to have joined the Plant-Based Universities group that is backed by Greenpeace UK and the Green Party leader Zack Polanski. Eco-fanatics at the group claim on their website that universities "legitimise the industries of animal agriculture and fishing", a sector worth billions which employs people across the country.

Slamming the move the Countryside Alliance said that a "tiny minority of students" had led to the decision which spokesman Johnnie Furse said excluded the "great many students who neither wanted nor consented to this. Speaking the Daily Express he called on people to support farmers, and not "paint them as the enemy" adding: "British livestock farmers produce meat and dairy to some of the highest welfare and sustainability standards in the world."

Meat and dairy, campaigners claim, has been proven to be part of a balanced diet, and Mr Furse said vegan products are "often ultra-processed or imported from the other side of the world, and often come with a huge carbon footprint". But Southampton Dons lauded the move, with Dr Becks Spake, Associate Professor of Climate and Environmental Change at Southampton heralding the change as "excellent".

Lavishing praise on the establishment she said: "The University is acting on its responsibility to lead on climate action. This decision aligns with scientific evidence that shifting to plant-rich diets is essential for cutting emissions, protecting nature, and securing food for future generations."

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In a statement released online the anti-farming group bragged that a grand total of just 12 students had made the decision to adopt the petition.

Supporting the move, Matthew Rochford and PhD Student at the University said he was "delighted" by the decision and said it "recognises the devastating impact of animal agriculture" which he said was one of the "biggest issues we face today".

Calling the vote, which saw delegates at the Student Union vote 12 - 3 in favour of the move, a "strong mandate" he called on the other elite establishments to follow suit.

Blasting the move Mr Furze said that the "vast majority of the British public recognise all of this, something reflected by the fact that vegan products are being increasingly rejected, with their sales having consistently dropped over the past two years."