EATING meat could be outlawed, a radical barrister has said.

Michael Mansfield QC is calling for a new law to criminalise the “wilful destruction of nature”.

1 Michael Mansfield QC claims livestock farming is destroying the planet Credit: Ray Collins - The Sun

The 77-year-old, whose clients included the Stephen Lawrence family and the Guildford Four, claimed livestock farming is destroying the planet.

He said of meat-eating: “It is not preposterous to think one day it will become illegal.

“There are plenty of things once commonplace that are now illegal.”

He is leading a “Vegan Now” campaign at the Labour Party Conference in Brighton. Experts claim the world’s top three meat firms emit more greenhouse gases each year than all of France.

Mr Mansfield said: “It is time for a new law on ‘ecocide’ to go alongside genocide and the other crimes against humanity.”

A panel of experts will debate the effects of livestock farming on global biodiversity and climate change.

MOST READ IN UK NEWS HAPPY MEAL McDonald’s worker pays customer’s bill after he calls mum to ask for her order Exclusive HAPPY MEAL McDonald’s worker who paid for lad’s meal has secretly bought food for MONTHS HERE WE SNOW! Leeds hit by SNOW as temps plummet to -5 as Brits brace for 65mph gusts today SCHOOL TRAGEDY Girl, 6, killed by falling tree at primary school LOCKED IN Top SAGE scientists had a plan for EVERYONE over the age of 45 to shield at home Exclusive VIRUS VICTORY Miracle Covid patient leaves ICU after record 172 days since he fell ill

Juliet Gellatley, of vegan charity Viva!, said: “Thirty years ago people didn’t bat an eyelid if you lit a cigarette in a pub or restaurant.

“But now society accepts smoking is harmful and so we legislated against it. The same could happen with eating meat.”

But Stuart Roberts of the National Farmers Union said: “We’ve committed to being carbon-neutral by 2040.” Any law “would miss the opportunity to be able to produce sustainable food”, he added.

University campuses across Britain are slashing meat from menus as the number of vegan students has quadrupled, caterers said

Parents’ fury as kids forced to eat vegetarian meals after UK school BANS meat, fish and packed lunches