MP creates campaign to make Freddo bars 5p after prices rocket

An MP has launched a campaign to make Freddo bars 5p again, and it's building some steam.

Labour MP Patrick Hurley, from Southport, set up a petition after hearing the grievances of students in his constituency.

Over on social media, he explained why he was doing the campaign, noting: "I was asked to launch a petition to bring the price of a Freddo back down to 5 pence. Now, I don’t know about anyone else, but I think that’s a great idea for a petition.

"20 pence for a Freddo is too much, especially in a cost of living crisis."

Freddos have climbed in price over the years (Credit: Sainsbury's)

The Cadbury chocolate bar, which weighs just 18g, was first released in the UK in 1973, relaunching in 1994, which is when its 10p price-tag was set.

The Freddo stayed put at 10p for a decade, not rising with inflation and becoming famed for its low-cost.

Then, in the mid 2000s, the price started to sneak up, and they sit at around 30p today.

The MP told the BBC that kids at a local school in his constituency had some choice words on the price of a Freddo.

"The girls were very clued-up about political issues, including assisted dying and the Middle East," he said.

However, it was the issue of the Freddo bar they decided to tackle first, with the students saying they should be slashed to 5p.

Whilst the MP said he didn't expect the campaign to succeed, he said it was a "lovely, little whimsical, light-hearted thing we can do" to introduce young people in politics.

"If you start talking about gas bills, the average 14-year-old might switch off, but if you talk about the price of chocolate bars..."

Patrick said he had "learnt more about Freddos than any person should" during the campaign, but he engaged the kids in the process!

A spokesperson from Mondelez International, the company which owns Cadbury, said: "It’s fantastic to hear about young people engaging in politics.

"It’s also important to note that as a manufacturer we do not set the retail prices for products sold in shops.

"However, what we can say is that since Freddo launched in 1973, our manufacturing costs have increased significantly and cocoa prices are at a record high, all of which need to be taken into consideration."

Featured image: Cadbury/ Twitter