An MSP has been ridiculed for using Scottish Parliament time and money to call for the UK Government to act over changes to Toblerone bars.
Colin Beattie, who represents Midlothian North and Musselburgh for the SNP, has asked his fellow parliamentarians for support on an official motion he lodged offering “condolences” to those mourning changes to the weight and shape of the popular confectionery.
He blames Brexit for the alterations and wants ministers in London to act to reverse the plans.
The motion reads: “That the Parliament notes with concern Mondelez International’s recent decision to widen the gaps between the segments of the iconic Swiss chocolate bar, Toblerone, in the UK; understands that this was made in order to allay rising costs for numerous ingredients; believes that this is emblematic of the devastating consequences that Brexit could bring; offers its condolences to those mourning this change to the bar; calls on the UK Government to take speedy action to rectify the change, but wishes the company the best possible success with the lighter bar.”
It emerged earlier this month that the makers of Toblerone have widened the gaps between the chocolate bar’s distinctive triangular chunks in an effort to avoid putting its prices up.
Opposition parties mocked Mr Beattie’s motion, however.
Scottish Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser said: “It appears that the SNP’s quest to find grievance in all things has now entered the confectionary stall. What a joke.
“However, given the grief Mr Beattie is suffering over the scaling down of Toblerone, the Scottish Conservatives pledge today to buy him some good Scots chocolate, like a pack of Tunnock’s tea cakes which – regardless of Brexit – remain as delicious and substantial as always.”
A Scottish Labour source: “This took us by surprise – the SNP’s whole mission is greater separation.
“Even the most sweet toothed of Scottish taxpayers must be wondering if this is the best use of parliamentary time, some might even say Mr Beattie is about as much use as a chocolate teapot.”
And further fun was poked online.
Worst politician of the day award already won guys. https://t.co/oK38a6xOhb
— Matt Kilcoyne (@MRJKilcoyne) November 16, 2016
You cannot be serious? https://t.co/XA9c2DXFIb
— Murdo Fraser (@murdo_fraser) November 16, 2016
Surely this is a matter for COBRA?
— John Ruddy (@jruddy99) November 16, 2016
This is actually Colin Beattie's best work in parliament since trying to sell tours of the building https://t.co/hXJsR0LNJI
— Michael Sharpe (@ThinkSharpe) November 16, 2016
Hang on is he blaming the UK Government for Toblerone? Chocolate reserved?
— Colin Mackay (@STVColin) November 16, 2016
Holyrood authorities say motions are a way for members to initiate debate or propose a course of action, as well as serving as “a useful way of drawing attention to a particular local issue or event.”
A parliament spokesman said the estimated cost of a motion is between £5 and £6.
SNP MSP Christine Grahame called, through a parliamentary motion, for a review of the system in 2014.
Mr Beattie is not the first politician to be criticised for putting forward a motion, according to our sister paper The Sunday Post.
In 2002, SNP MSP Kenneth Gibson used a motion to congratulate Nationalist colleague Colin Campbell on the birth of his eighth grandchild. Six years later he then used the official parliamentary motion system to praise his own daughter for winning a school prize.
In 2004, ex-Socialist MSP Carolyn Leckie called on MSPs to back her bid for Scotland to have a separate Eurovision song contest entry.
In 2006, former Green Party MSP Robin Harper tabled a parliamentary motion urging that releases of balloons be banned, except for scientific purposes.
In 2008, SNP Christine Grahame asked Holyrood to recognise the talents of rock legends AC/DC and the following year she hit out at the TV coverage of the English cricket team’s Ashes series win over Australia which was “apparently of more importance than the continuing starvation of millions in Niger”.
In 2014, former Labour backbencher Mary Fee lodged a parliamentary motion marking the fact a superhero in the X-Men comic proposed to his boyfriend.
