Ban on unhealthy BOGOF deals is 'utterly bonkers', says Shipley MP

Philip Davies, Conservative MP for Shipley, has been vocal about the ban, branding the idea “utterly bonkers” – especially during a cost-of-living crisis.

Government plans to scrap offers on unhealthy foods are currently on hold, but Mr Davies wants the controversial policy dropped completely.

Speaking during Prime Minister’s Questions in the House of Commons yesterday, he called on Rishi Sunak to intervene and abandon the “ridiculous policy” completely.

Shipley MP Philip Davies (Image: Newsquest)

He said: “One of the socialist landmines that the Prime Minister has inherited from the former Member for Uxbridge and South Ruislip (Boris Johnson) is the banning of buy one, get one free and other special offers on products that the Department of Health and Social Care thought were unhealthy.

“At the best of times, that is an idiotic triumph of the nanny state, but during a cost-of-living crisis, it is utterly bonkers. Will the Prime Minister intervene, pursue a more Conservative agenda, and scrap this ridiculous policy?”

The Prime Minister indicated that no final decision had been made on the move which was part of plans to tackle childhood obesity. He said he was taking Mr Davies’ point “seriously”.

He acknowledged Mr Davies’ stance on the issue, adding: “As he knows, after I took office, given the concerns that he and others had raised about the impact on the cost of living of this policy, we postponed its introduction.

“No final decisions have been made, but I will continue to take what he says very seriously in all our deliberations.”

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak speaking at PMQs (Image: UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor)

Mr Davies added: “People have a right to choose what they want to buy and should not be dictated to. It was a ludicrous idea at the time, and I made my thoughts on the matter very clear and will keep doing so. It was a wrong policy decision in 2020 and even more so now given the cost-of-living crisis.

“People need to be able to make their own choices regarding which foods they buy and that includes the option of taking advantage of BOGOF or any other offers that may be available. It is not for Government to lecture them or make the decision for them.”

The Government introduced a ban on less healthy foods at key store locations last October, meaning foods that are high in fat, salt or sugar (HFSS) cannot be displayed at store entrances, aisle ends and checkouts.

Introducing a ban on HFSS multibuy offers was delayed, but some supermarkets have already moved away from BOGOF offers.