Scrap law making schools serve meat, says Labour donor Vince Dale

But he added: “There are schools which want to go further. They don’t want meat and dairy on the menu perhaps every day of the week or even at all.

“But it is the law of the land. I am hoping to have a conversation with the new government to encourage them to change the law.”

Government guidance issued to schools in England, external says they must serve a “wide range of foods across the week”.

This must include fresh fruit and vegetables, some milk and dairy and “a portion of meat or poultry on three or more days each week”.

Mr Vince said it was now clear that a vegan diet was healthier than eating meat and dairy products, adding: “We shouldn’t be forcing these unhealthy products on to our kids.”

He told the meeting he also planned to talk to the education secretary about incorporating “climate and sustainability” into the primary school curriculum.

He denied he was against farmers, insisting that he did not want to kill the industry but allow it to be “reborn”.

“[Farmers] have to be part of the move to net zero, they have to move away from agriculture, we know that the science tells us that – and they already grow grass to feed to animals.”