Does mincemeat have to contain suet?

[Herocomplex]

Is it purely as a preservative? If I was to make some without it and make mince pies with it the following day, do you think it would be disappointing?

Mary Berry has a recipe that uses butter instead of suet - google Special Mincemeat. I've made some for the first time this year and haven't used it yet.

It has to contain fat, but I don't see why that had to be suet.

Are you veggie/ vegan because you can get veggie suet?

I have done the Mary Berry one for years and it is really good.
It keeps in the jar for a couple of months so no worries at all about it not being good for your mince pies
I am trying it with plant butter this year too

Ah thank you all, I was thinking of adding some kind of fat for ‘mouthfeel’ but will look at Mary Berry for guidance.

I’m not in the uk, I’m going to make them as a ‘curiosity’ for a party I’m going to. I bet I can find proper suet here but not sure about veggie, so I thought I’d ask you wise lot first. I don’t mind proper suet, but it might be a step too far for the other partygoers!