 "British Prime Minister Keir Starmer walks outside 10 Downing Street on the day of Prime Minister's Questions in London, UK, December 18, 2024. File Image/Reuters")
A satirical Christmas song in the UK, “Freezing This Christmas,” has turned a lot of heads, especially at 10 Downing Street in London.
The track, a parody of Mud’s 1974 hit “Lonely This Christmas,” critiques British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his government’s decision to remove winter fuel payments for millions of pensioners.
Created under the band name “Sir Starmer and the Granny Harmers,” the song has captured public attention because of its biting lyrics. It is now at the centre of controversy as major broadcasters like the BBC have refused to give it any airtime.
Chris Middleton, a 33-year-old freelance writer from Newcastle, penned the lyrics, inspired by the struggles of pensioners during the winter. “I felt obligated to take on the issue,” Middleton told The Telegraph. “Pensioners have told me they feel abandoned. The changes to winter fuel allowance weren’t in Labour’s manifesto, and the hypocrisy is plain to see.”
The track features scathing lyrics such as: “It’ll be freezing this Christmas, without fuel at home, it’ll be freezing this Christmas, while Keir Starmer is warm. It’ll be cold, so cold, without fuel at home, this Christmas.”
Middleton enlisted Dean Ager, a 51-year-old Rat Pack tribute singer, to perform the song. Despite having never met in person, the duo created a track that has resonated with many.
“Chris contacted me and said, ‘I’ve got this song – can you do it?’ He paid me £50, and I recorded it in about 15 minutes,” Ager recounted, telling The Telegraph. “When he told me we were number one on the iTunes download charts, I was jumping around in excitement like a little kid.”
The BBC freezes ‘Freezing This Christmas’
Despite its success on digital platforms, the BBC has chosen not to air “Freezing This Christmas.” The song has topped download charts and raised over £24,000 for Age UK, yet it remains absent from BBC radio playlists.
A BBC spokesperson stated, “Decisions about which tracks we play are made on a case-by-case basis in line with what our audience expect to hear.”
Critics have accused the broadcaster of bias and censorship. Dean Ager remarked that the BBC’s refusal to play it is “giving them bad publicity for being so biased.”
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Tory MP Greg Smith called the decision “an absurdity,” adding, that the network “should not play a song that is selling so well”.
The BBC has faced similar controversies in the past. In 2013, it refused to play “Ding Dong! The Witch Is Dead” after an online campaign propelled it to number two on the charts following Margaret Thatcher’s death.
The corporation defended its stance, citing the song’s celebratory tone over a public figure’s passing. However, critics argue that the current refusal to air “Freezing This Christmas” lacks a clear justification, given its charitable intent.
Campaign for Christmas number one
The song’s accompanying video, featuring black-and-white clips of elderly individuals, has garnered over 1.4 million views on YouTube. Comments from viewers reflect widespread support for the song’s message.
The Telegraph quoted one user, who wrote, “I work as a carer and seeing some of my clients with their hats and gloves on in their home just breaks my heart. Thank you for raising awareness and charity.”
The track also received praise from Rob Davis, a former member of Mud. Davis commented, “It’s a good version. The vocals sound the same as Les [Gray, Mud’s late singer]. It’s a cool version.” However, he sympathised with the BBC, noting, “They’re probably being really careful because they get done for a lot of things.”
Middleton and Ager have expressed their primary goal: raising awareness and funds for elderly support charities. “This song is like a little symbol of hope,” Ager told The Telegraph. “It says to elderly people, ‘We care about you.’ The people in power might not help you, but People Power is going to try.”
While bookmakers rank the song as a strong contender for Christmas number one, its ultimate placement will depend on streaming and sales data collated by the Official Charts Company.
Regardless of the outcome, Middleton and Ager are proud of their achievement. “If we make it to number one, it’ll be the first time a band that’s never met in person does so,” joked Middleton.
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With inputs from agencies