MPs Decry 'Bonkers' Gingerbread Renaming in Commons Row
A decision by House of Commons officials to sell Christmas biscuits labelled as 'gingerbread people' has sparked a fierce backlash from Conservative MPs, who have branded the move 'bonkers' and an example of unnecessary political correctness.
Tory Outrage Over Biscuit Terminology
Sir Desmond Swayne, the Tory former minister and MP for New Forest West, publicly expressed his anger after encountering the £1.70 snack on the parliamentary estate. He questioned why the 251-calorie treat had been given a gender-neutral name, famously asking, 'Who's ever heard of a gingerbread person?' He subsequently posted a picture of the product label on social media, amplifying the controversy.
His sentiments were quickly echoed by fellow Conservative Tom Tugendhat, the MP for Tonbridge, who mockingly stated that the 'courage' behind the decision 'deserves recognition'.
Reform UK's Pledge to Scrap 'Woke' Labels
The debate escalated with intervention from Reform UK's Lee Anderson, the MP for Ashfield. He told The Sun that if his party won power and Nigel Farage became prime minister, they would initiate a crackdown on such 'woke' terminology. 'When Reform is in government there will be no more gingerbread people, no police people, or chair people,' Anderson declared, adding that they would not 'abandon tradition to appease the woke and delusional.'
However, the MPs' focus on biscuit labelling was not universally applauded. On social media platform X, some users challenged Sir Desmond, with one asking if he had 'nothing better to do'. Another critic pointedly remarked, 'Imagine stealing a living because you're paid thousands a month to get angry over ginger biscuits.'
Amid the furore, a House of Commons spokeswoman confirmed that they would not be commenting on the matter, leaving the 'gingerbread person' to remain at the centre of a miniature Westminster storm.
