Jamie Oliver adds grapes onto his sausage pizza
The celebrity chef has spoken out on a number of issues close to his heart, including the sugar tax, school meals and Brexit. Oliver, a staunch Remainer, was extremely unhappy after 52 percent of the nation voted Leave in the EU referendum. The 45-year-old, who stars in Jamie: Keep Cooking Family Favourites tonight, has regularly come under fire for his political views.
Oliver has been a vocal opponent of Brexit for many years and previously said he was “embarrassed” by the nation’s decision to leave.
In fiery remarks, he claimed to have been “against Brexit from the beginning” and “certainly did not vote in favour of it”.
The TV chef felt he “took a clear stand” before more than 17 million people voted to leave the European Union (EU).
Shortly after the referendum’s result, Oliver told the German Press Agency: “I’m angry and I’m embarrassed.
Jamie Oliver said he was ‘angry’ and ’embarrassed’ by Brexit before being snubbed (Image: GETTY / CHANNEL 4)
Jamie Oliver burst onto TV screens with The Naked Chef in 1999 (Image: GETTY)
“I think that it’s a really, really bad idea.”
Oliver was called out for his remarks by several members of the public and also his rival Gordon Ramsay.
In a 2017 Radio Times interview, The F-Word star said: “No disrespect but we are chefs, not politicians!”
“When you breathe that stuff down the public’s throat and say, ‘I am leaving if we have Brexit’, then I’m sorry the door stands open.”
Ramsay felt it was “all very well to spout off” but claimed Oliver “only” campaigned when he had something to promote.
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Jamie Oliver’s restaurant chain, Jamie’s Italian, faced ‘problems’ after Brexit was voted for (Image: GETTY)
In reference to his rival’s stance over the sugar tax and supermarkets, Ramsay said: “None of that was spoken about when he was label-slapping with Sainsbury’s for 10 years!”
At the time, Oliver justified his Remainer views by stating it was because he “did not know” how leaving the EU would affect the economy.
But he argued the result had to be accepted and said: “Either you believe in democracy or not – if you believe in it, you cannot ignore it.”
Oliver believed Brexit could be done “in a positive way” but feared “how many years” before the UK would reap financial benefit.
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He said: “The question is, how many years it will be bumpy and how bumpy it gets?”
Sophie Jarvis, a policy advisor for the think tank Adam Smith Institute, suggested Oliver should stay out of politics.
She said: “It seems he sticks his nose in everything!”
Ms Jarvis noted that Oliver “was trying to ban Honey Monster a few months ago” and felt he jumped on the bandwagon.
Gordon Ramsay slammed Jamie Oliver for his political stances and claimed they ‘only’ promotional (Image: GETTY)
She claimed his justification for trying to get rid of the Sugar Puffs mascot was that the figure “was luring children into buying sugary cereals and whatnot”.
Ms Jarvis continued: “He’s trying to ban everything.”
The advisor pointed out a number of interventions made by Oliver, in relation to Government policy.
They included the soft drink levy, known as the sugar tax, which was implemented in 2018.
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Oliver also successfully campaigned to ban Turkey Twizzlers from school menus in 2005 after a debate about health food and was later discontinued.
After the processed meat product returned last year with a “much-improved” recipe, the chef raised concerns again.
He told Sky News: “The prospect of what else is in them isn’t particularly good.”
Ms Jarvis argued that Oliver “should focus on his ailing restaurants more than on policy” in a rant about the chef’s Brexit remarks.
Jamie Oliver returns to TV screens with Jamie: Keep Cooking Family Favourites on Channel 4 (Image: CHANNEL 4)
At the time, he partially blamed Brexit for Jamie’s Italian restaurant chain nearly collapsing in 2017.
Oliver said: “Rents, rates, the high street declining, food costs, Brexit, increase in the minimum wage – there was a lot going on.”
Ms Jarvis responded: “I personally think he should spend less time trying to intervene in Government policy and more time on his restaurants.
“Then maybe this wouldn’t have happened.”
Jamie: Keep Cooking Family Favourites airs at 8.30pm tonight on Channel 4.