Singer behind anti-Starmer festive hit warns BBC’s refusal to play song will cost pensioner donations
The singer behind a chart-topping anti-Keir Starmer festive hit has warned that the BBC’s refusal to play the song will cost pensioners donations.
“Freezing This Christmas”, created by Chris Middleton, was inspired by the country’s anger over Labour’s cuts to Winter Fuel Payments. The satirical song was performed by ‘Sir Starmer and the Granny Harmers’.
The song, a remake of Mud’s 1974 track “Lonely This Christmas”, has placed number one on both the Official Sales and Downloads charts.
However, the BBC has refused to play the parody song, despite having no formal policy preventing the airing of protest or political songs.
Dean Ager, the singer on the track, said that the broadcaster’s refusal to play the song will result in less money being raised for the vulnerable.
“Christmas time is the perfect opportunity for those to think about other people, maybe not so well off as themselves,” Ager told The Telegraph.
“By this song not being played on the BBC and getting out to as many people, it means less money is being raised, that’s the struggle I’m really trying to promote.”
The singer performed the song to a small crowd outside the Houses of Parliament on Sunday.
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Ager added: “The Prime Minister is meant to be working for the people and it doesn’t look like that, especially if you’ve got a voice, you have to use it for those who don’t – like the elderly.”
He has previously claimed the BBC’s refusal to play the song is “giving them bad publicity for being so biased”.
All proceeds from the parody version are being donated to charity, with over £47,000 raised for Age UK since its release at the start of the month.
Middleton, creator of the hit, told GB News: “It just shows you how much the song resonated with people. The message of it, how much anger there is.”
Whilst the charity has declined to comment on the donation or the song, they have called on the Government to take action to protect the 2.5 million pensioners who will be left without the payment this year.
Caroline Abrahams, the charity director for Age UK, said: “The Government’s policy change is already causing older people hardship and undermining their health and, as we get deeper into winter, realistically things are likely to get worse.
“Once again, we repeat our call to the Government to recognise the damage their decision to brutally means-test winter fuel payments is causing millions of older people and to bring in measures to soften the blow.”
The Prime Minister has not yet officially commented on the parody song.
In response to the controversy, a BBC spokesman said: “We play a wide range of music across our stations – we don’t have specific policies on tracks or ban any songs.”
The broadcaster also emphasised that decisions about what to play are “always made with the relevant audiences and context in mind”.