Gingerbread men banned at Holyrood ...for fear of being sexist

THEY have been a fixture in bakeries and confectionery shops since medieval times.

But Scottish parliament chiefs have banned the sale of gingerbread men in their latest bid to drive out sexism at Holyrood.

Catering staff have been forced to market a gingerbread ‘person’ in the coffee shop for fear some could be offended by the traditional name.

The controversial move was revealed as a strategy to stamp out sexual harassment and sexism was unveiled at Holyrood this week.

The policy has been developed after a survey found 30 per cent of women employed at the Scottish parliament believed they had been sexually harassed while working in the building, with 6 per cent of men claiming to be victims.

While the new policy has been broadly welcomed by MSPs, staff and others working in the Scottish parliament, Holyrood chiefs yesterday were accused of ‘trivialising’ the issue of gender equality.

Scottish Conservative equalities spokesman Annie Wells said: ‘Surely the Scottish parliament has got better things to do than worry about what to call gingerbread men? This is an utterly pointless gesture which simply trivialises the real issues of gender equality.’

But the move was welcomed by Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie, who hailed it as a win in the battle for equality. He said: ‘The future is gingerbread people – I can almost taste it.’

A Scottish parliament spokesman said the gingerbread persons ‘were delicious and sold out completely’.

‘This trivialises the real issues’