JD Vance has been criticised after his security detail allegedly took over every disabled parking space at a high-end Cotswolds farm shop.
The US Vice President’s huge entourage reportedly occupied all the bays reserved for people with mobility issues for over three hours when he visited Daylesford Organic, near Chipping Norton on Tuesday.
His team are also said to have demanded the social media details of villagers for security reasons.
At least one shopper was prevented from visiting the shop, the Daily Mail reported. The resident said: “The disabled parking spaces are right in front of the entrance. That whole area was black SUV’s. They took up the whole f****** car park.”
Another local posted on social media: “For God’s sake! So JD Vance’s security think it is completely acceptable to take every single disabled allocated parking space at Daylesford Farm.
“Ghastly and totally wrong and inconsiderate, is me being polite. We don’t want him and his 22 security vehicles on our manor! Leave us alone.”
It comes after British police working with the Secret Service detail for Donald Trump’s deputy have been accused of demanding villagers’ social media details.
Thames Valley Police confirmed people living in the Hamlet of Dean had been spoken to by officers, but only to ensure they could pass through the security buffer zone without problems.
The force vehemently denies people were asked about their social media accounts.
However, a dog walker from the hamlet told the Observer: “We have had the police knocking on every door.
“They wanted the names of everybody living there and details of their social media. I know several people refused.”
Mr Vance is on a family holiday in the Cotswolds with his wife, Usha, and children Ewan, eight, Vivek, five, and Mirabel, three.
He has also held meetings with senior figures in British politics, including a fishing trip with Foreign Secretary David Lammy and breakfast with Nigel Farage on Wednesday.
But many locals have not welcomed the visit. Protesters displayed signs at the roadside that read “Vance you are not welcome” and “Vance stop funding genocide”.
Jeremy Clarkson joined the backlash after a no-fly zone interrupted the filming of his show Clarkson’s Farm.
He posted a map online and captioned it: “The JD Vance no fly zone. We are the pin. So on the downside, no drone shots today. On the upside, no annoying light aircraft.”
His friend and star of the show Kaleb Cooper posted on Instagram: “My wheat got wet in the trailer last night as the [convoy] stopped me in the rain in Chippy [Chipping Norton].
“I could easily have went on my way and got it in the shed without getting in the way.”
A spokesman for Thames Valley Police said the force is “supporting the United States during the Vice President’s visit to our area to ensure the safety of all involved”
He added: “A restricted access area has been put in place in a small part of Dean as part of our operation.
“We spoke to affected residents to ensure we are able to facilitate movement within the restricted access area. Residents were under no obligation to answer any questions and were not asked about social media.”
