Political leaders on Kirklees Council have joined together to condemn "inflammatory" comments around the simmering row over the serving of non-stunned halal meat in the borough&apos;s schools.
Just three months after he accused the council of failing to be transparent over its policy, campaigner Aleks Lukic claims to have identified those schools in Kirklees serving meat that is not stunned before slaughter.
But he has been roundly criticised, with Council Leader Shabir Pandor (Batley West) calling his motives "extreme and dangerous".
Conservative group leader Clr David Hall (Liversedge and Gomersal) said he condemned those "who would try to stir up community tensions using this issue as a cover".
Of the 196 schools in Kirklees, 167 receive a catering service from the council.
Of those schools 42 serve halal meat, 16 of which do not offer a non-halal meat alternative although there are vegetarian and fish options.
The council confirmed that it served only non-stunned halal meat in its schools as that is what is deemed acceptable by overseeing body the Halal Monitoring Committee.
Last year the council said it would not be "appropriate" to disclose the names of schools with a halal provision.
But Mr Lukic says he now knows the schools and the number that do not offer an alternative meat choice - 19 - is higher than the figure provided by Kirklees.
Mr Lukic, whose online petition calling for all meat served in the borough&apos;s schools to be stunned before slaughter was signed by more than 7,000 people, said his list was based on school menus and leaked documents.
Eight schools were located in Dewsbury, with seven in Batley and four in Huddersfield.
Mr Lukic, who has previously accused Kirklees Council of operating under a "culture of secrecy", said it was time for council leaders "to listen, to provide an official list of schools and to stop forcing so many animals to endure unnecessary suffering."
He added: "British law states that non-stun slaughter is only allowed for people who hold that belief, so the lack of choice in school meals is driving segregation between our communities.
"It is unacceptable that the council&apos;s menus in so many schools do not properly cater for non-Muslim families or Muslim families who are not content with the pain and distress caused by non-stun slaughter."
Mr Lukic, whis standing as an independent candidate for Dewsbury east in the forthcoming local election, was backed by Batley West independent candidate Paul Halloran, who said Labour was creating "huge divisions and mistrust".
Their comments drew a fierce response from the leaders of the Labour, Conservative, Liberal democrat and Green groups on the council.
Clr Pandor commented: "The kind of language used by these candidates does not have a place in our modern and inclusive society.
"It’s now very clear and I am in no doubt that the motives for these candidates is extreme and dangerous.
"The issue of halal meat has been debated at length at council and has included questions from the public. The council prides itself on being open and transparent and has supplied the information when requested, although some of the information is exempt under the Freedom of Information Act.
"Kirklees Catering Service is one of the best in the country. I have asked senior executives in the council to refresh this policy with schools with a view to making our catering service even better.
"I have spoken to many individuals and have assured them that no one eats what they do not want to eat and everyone’s choices are met.
Clr Hall responded: "Local Conservative policy is that all schools should offer both halal and non-halal meat, according to the wishes of parents, but also that all halal meat should be pre-stunned, as recommended by the RSPCA.
"According to legislation, it is not permitted to ritually slaughter meat unless intended for Muslims or Jews, and in this regard I don&apos;t think some schools are obeying the letter of the law.
"I and my Conservative colleagues have approached this issue solely as one of prevention of cruelty to animals, and I condemn those who would try to stir up community tensions using this issue as a cover."
Lib Dem group leader Clr John Lawson (Cleckheaton) said: "I expressed a view during the council debate on the halal petition that schools must be transparent in their dealings with parents and trust them to make informed choices about all aspects of their children’s school life.
"This includes how food is provided.
"As with all organisations, if things aren’t transparent it opens the door to leaks, mistaken suppositions and half-cocked campaigns, none of which are helpful to parents, children or the schools themselves.
"I would repeat that the concern for animal welfare is understood, so let’s have information about battery hens, dairy conditions and other well-known problem areas in food production."
Green group leader Clr Andrew Cooper (Newsome) said: "There are many issues associated with animal rights and with the food that we eat such as inhumane factory farming conditions, the killing of day-old male chicks as part of the egg production process, and numerous other issues associated with the mass production of meat.
"Surely the way that animals live is at least as important as how they die.
"To focus on one issue which affects one part of the population, and in particularly the children from that community, is grossly insensitive at a time of heightened tension.
"I would suggest that the people who are pushing this issue should think more widely about animal welfare in food production because focusing on a particular community in this way is inflammatory."