Andrew Griffith blasts Liberal Democrat councillors over veganism and four-day workweek policies during BBC interview in the UK election run-up

With local elections just around the corner, political jabs are flying—and this time, it’s about tofu and work schedules.

Conservative frontbencher Andrew Griffith raised eyebrows over the weekend when he accused Liberal Democrat councillors of being a little too fond of veganism and short workweeks.

Griffith Slams “Extreme” Lib Dem Lifestyle Choices

During an interview on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg on BBC, Griffith—currently the shadow business secretary—criticised the Lib Dems, saying that “too many” of their councillors follow a vegan lifestyle.

According to him, the party is promoting what he calls an “extremist” no-meat, no-dairy agenda.

But that wasn’t all. He also took issue with the Lib Dems’ support for four-day workweeks for council employees, claiming that such policies have negatively impacted local communities.

“They’re quite extremist,” Griffith said. “Every time they get into a council, it’s four-day weeks and veganism.”

BBC Host Pushes Back, Griffith Doubles Down

Host Laura Kuenssberg wasn’t letting that slide without a challenge. She questioned whether it was fair to generalize the entire party as vegan.

Griffith did soften a little, saying, “Not all of them, but too many.”

On Sky News, he echoed the same concerns, warning that Lib Dem councils have supported “all sorts of extreme foreign policies” and practices like shortened workweeks, which he said have failed to serve local residents effectively.

Lib Dems Fire Back with a Sharp Retort

Unsurprisingly, the Liberal Democrats weren’t having any of it.

A party insider responded with a sharp rebuke, calling Griffith’s comments “frankly a bit weird.”

The source didn’t stop there, taking a direct swipe at Griffith’s own political history: “This is the same Andrew Griffith who served in Liz Truss’s Treasury when the Conservatives crashed the economy and sent mortgage rates soaring.

Voters haven’t forgotten that—and bizarre comments like this won’t change their minds.”

Farage Alliance Rumours Linger in the Background

While Griffith was busy slamming Lib Dems, he also found himself dodging another hot topic—whether the Tories are open to forming alliances with Nigel Farage’s Reform Party after the local elections.

Reform is predicted to do well on May 1, especially in council seats.

Griffith didn’t rule anything out, saying local decisions are up to the councillors and that “alliances shouldn’t be taken off the table.”

But he quickly added that voters can avoid that scenario by simply voting Conservative in the first place.

Labour Weighs In on the Chaos

Labour didn’t miss the opportunity to jump in. A party spokesperson warned that any collaboration between the Tories and Reform would be a step backward.

“It’s now crystal clear: if you vote Conservative or Reform, you’re voting to reopen the door to the same Tory chaos that people rejected just last year,” they said.