BBC branded ‘two-tier’ after refusing to play Starmer parody Christmas song but aired anti-Thatcher songs
The BBC has come under fire for refusing to play a chart-topping parody song about Sir Keir Starmer, despite the track reaching number one on both the Official Sales and Downloads charts.
“Freezing This Christmas” also placed 37th in the BBC’s own official chart on Friday, yet the broadcaster has declined to air the song.
The BBC’s stance contrasts sharply with its previous handling of political songs, having aired the anti-Thatcher track “Stand Down Margaret” by The Beat in 1980.
The BBC maintains its decision is “in line with what our audience expect to hear”, despite having no formal policy preventing the airing of protest or political songs.
The BBC has come under fire for refusing to play a chart-topping parody song about Sir Keir Starmer, despite the track reaching number one on both the Official Sales and Downloads chart
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The parody song uses the melody of Mud’s 1974 hit “Lonely This Christmas” to criticise the withdrawal of winter fuel payments.
Notably, the original Mud song was itself withheld from BBC airplay during the pandemic due to concerns it could worsen feelings of loneliness.
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.
Anti-Thatcher track “Stand Down Margaret” song, which reached number 22 in the charts, was broadcast on both The Old Grey Whistle Test and the children’s show Cheggers Plays Pop.
“Stand Down Margaret” explicitly called for the prime minister’s resignation during a period of high unemployment and social unrest.
The track’s lyrics directly challenged Thatcher’s leadership, stating: “Our lives seem petty in your cold grey hands/ Would you give a second thought/ Would you ever give a damn, I doubt it.”
The TaxPayers Alliance has strongly criticised the BBC’s position, with investigations campaign manager Joanna Marchong calling out the broadcaster’s “blatant bias”.
“Licence fee payers will be appalled by the Beeb’s blatant bias,” said Marchong.
“The BBC claims to be impartial, yet they’re refusing to play Freezing This Christmas despite its chart-topping success, based on what they think listeners want.”
She added: “BBC bosses must end this two-tier broadcasting and focus on serving the public fairly, not pushing their own narrow agenda.”
Ray Stiles, bass guitarist for Mud, described “the BBC as a law unto themselves” in his criticism of the broadcaster’s decision.
“They feed people the music they want to play,” said Stiles, expressing concern about the wider implications of winter fuel payment cuts.
“People have subscribed to the parody of our song because it has and will affect peoples’ lives. No one likes to be cold but so many people are going to have no option.”
He added pointedly: “I guess people who make these decisions won’t be cold, they’re probably paid plenty of money and if they’re cold they just turn the heating up.”
Singer Dean Ager, who performs the parody track, has planned to take his protest directly to Parliament.
Ager has previously claimed the BBC’s refusal to play the song is “giving them bad publicity for being so biased”.
Sir Keir Starmer has not yet officially commented on the parody song.
In response to the controversy, a BBC spokesperson 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 emphasised that decisions about what to play are “always made with the relevant audiences and context in mind.”
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