A pensioner criticising Labour’s cuts to the winter fuel payment in a Conservative Party video has led to questions on social media over whether he is wearing a Rolex watch.
The Tories tweeted out the video last Friday to promote a petition against the policy, which would scrap the annual benefit for all but the very poorest pensioners in England and Wales.
But social media users quickly drew attention to the watch worn by the first man to appear, which had a gold and silver strap and a blue dial.
Former GB News presenter Albie Amankona wrote: ‘Tell me my party’s social media team did not film a pensioner losing the winter fuel allowance wearing a solid gold @ROLEX?’
Another user said the watch is ‘very distinctive’ and described it as a rare Rolex Tridor Day-Date – linking to an eBay page which had it on sale for more than £17,000.
According to watch reselling website Chrono24, Tridor watches are worth between £4,895 and £62,253.
Replica Rolex watches are also available for considerably cheaper, often fetching between £90 and £440.
has been unable to confirm whether the item seen in the video is a real Rolex or a replica, or a different brand, and has asked the Conservatives for a comment.
Labour’s decision to means-test the winter fuel allowance will mean only people who receive pension credit will get the £200 or £300 payment in their bank accounts this year.
Previously, it has been universal, meaning every pensioner in the country would receive it regardless of their income.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has said the cut is one of the tough decisions she had to make to tackle what she said was a £22 billion ‘black hole’ in the government’s finances.
The Conservatives have been heavily critical of the cut, and describe themselves as ‘leading the fight to reverse Labour’s decision’.
But at the party conference in Brighton last week, only one of the four candidates to become Tory leader committed to restoring the payment in full if they became Prime Minister.
Asked if she would ensure all pensioners got the benefit again, shadow housing secretary Kemi Badenoch said: ‘Certainly to a lot of them, not to the millionaires.’
Looking out at the conference crowd, she added: ‘Sorry, sorry millionaires.’
Tom Tugendhat and James Cleverly were also equivocal when asked the same question, but former immigration minister Robert Jenrick responded: ‘Yes.’
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