Michael Rosen joins Beard Hall of Fame on his 78th Birthday

Beard Liberation Front

7^th May

Contact BLF Organiser Keith Flett @kmflett

Michael Rosen joins Beard Hall of Fame on his 78^th Birthday

The Beard Liberation Front, the informal network of beard wearers, has said that author,broadcaster and Arsenal fan Michael Rosen has joined the Beard Hall of Fame on his 78^th Birthday.

The Beard Hall of Fame is a virtual construct reserved for beard wearers who have had a significant and sustained impact in the public sphere.

Entries are quite rare, often no more than one or two beard wearers a year.

Rosen joins others such as Spike Milligan, Brian Blessed, Frank Dobson, Sir Mo Farah, Kofi Annan and Alexei Sayle in the Beard Hall of Fame

BLF Organiser Keith Flett said, we congratulate Michael Rosen on joining the Beard of Hall Fame. While we appreciate that the honour he was looking for in May was Arsenal winning the Premiership, the Beard Hall of Fame once entered, rather like the Hotel California, can never be left. It is a permanent accolade.

Concern that Polling ID led to beard wearers being refused a vote

Beard Liberation Front

5th May

Contact BLF Organiser Keith Flett @kmflett

The Beard Liberation Front, the informal network of beard wearers, has raised concerns of instances where beard wearers were refused the right to vote on May 2nd because their beard did not match their PhotoID.

The Electoral Reform Society has highlighted one instance of someone whose beard was more fully grown than on their PhotoID and as a result were refused the right to vote.

The campaigners say this has been an age old issue with Passport photos, now being at least partly overcome by biometric passports. The PhotoID legislation introduced by Boris Johnson was ill thought out and botched with numerous issues around what documentation can and cant be used and what issues might arise.

BLF Organiser Keith Flett said, what a surprise that one of the most clean shaven Governments of recent times didnt think about the issue of beards and PollingID.

Historians say the right to protest only exists if its exercised.

London Socialist Historians

contact LSHG Convenor Keith Flett @kmflett

The London Socialist Historians Group, which organises the socialist history seminar at the Institute of Historical Research,has sent solidarity to students and academics who are protesting at links to Israel and a plausible genocide in Gaza.

The UK protests follow those at a range of US Universities. Some have been attacked and cleared by police with State violence a key feature. President Biden has defended the right to protest.

The historians say this is a familiar mantra from politicians and the media that do not in fact support any right to protest. For them it remains purely a theoretical right not to be exercised. Numerous Times Editorials have made the point.

The historians say that the UK protests are entirely peaceful and have a broad base of supporters including Jewish students. Predictable complaints that they are anti-semitic come without evidence and essentially mean they are critical of the Israeli Government.

LSHG Convenor Dr Keith Flett said. Sunak and Mordaunt have used robust language about the protests and encouraged police intervention. For them its yet another culture war. Those on the sharp end in Gaza will see things differently.

Beard Liberation Front sorry to see Humza Yousaf step down

Beard Liberation Front

Media Release 29^th April

Contact: BLF Organiser Keith Flett @kmflett

Beard Liberation Front sorry to see Humza Yousaf step down

The Beard Liberation Front, the informal network of beard wearers, has said that it is sorry that Humza Yousaf is stepping down as First Minister in Scotland.

Mr Yousaf has in the last year been the most prominent beard wearer in a position of political power in Britain as a whole.

The campaigners say there is no evidence that dislike of Mr Yousaf’s beard was a factor in his resignation. Rather there was clearly a political dispute.

BLF Organiser Keith Flett said, we are keen supporters of beard power in politics. There hasn’t been a Prime Minister with a beard in Downing  St since 1902 and there were hopes that Humza Yousaf would help to promote change. Unfortunately it was not  to be.

Beard Liberation Front urges Humza Yousaf to avoid bringing the hirsute into disrepute

Beard Liberation Front

26th April

contact BLF Organiser Keith Flett @kmflett

The Beard Liberation Front, the informal network of beard wearers, has urged Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf to avoid any activity that might be seen as bringing the hirsute into disrepute.

Mr Yousaf is the highest profile beard wearer in British politics and his beard is arguably his most recognisable political characteristic.

The campaigners say that beard haters will latch on to anything that Humza Yousaf does that appears to confirm their prejudices

BLF Organiser Keith Flett said, there is clearly a potential crisis in Scottish politics but our specific focus is to try and make sure that it does not end up reflecting badly on beard wearers in politics.

Historians back US student protests on Gaza. March in solidarity: Central London 27th April

London Socialist Historians Group

26^th April

Contact LSHG Convenor Dr Keith Flett @kmflett

This is what solidarity with US students looks like. March for Palestine in central London 27th April

The London Socialist Historians Group, which organises the socialist history seminar the Institute of Historical Research, has sent solidarity greetings to US students protesting on Gaza.

The protests which are focused on condemning Israel’s genocide in Gaza and demanding that institutions cut links with Israeli companies and projects, started at Columbia NY but have now spread to other Universities.

The campus protests and sit-ins are entirely peaceful but in a number of cases police and troops have harassed and in some cases arrested protesting students and academics for being on their own campuses.

The historians say that the protests are making history while the reaction of the authorities is a reminder of what US democracy looks like when challenged.

While Netanyahu has had a rant about the protests the reality is that Israel has bombed and destroyed every academic institution in Gaza and killed over a hundred academics

LSHG Convenor Dr Keith Flett said, protesting is a democratic right but that is only maintained by exercising it. The US Government, like that in the UK, has actively participated in Israel’s destruction and slaughter in Gaza. We back the protests and send our solidarity.

March on Saturday 27th April 12.30pm Parliament Square to Hyde Park

Beard Liberation Front congratulates Russ Cook on marathon Africa run

Beard Liberation Front

8th April

contact BLF Organiser Keith Flett @kmflett

The Beard Liberation Front, the informal network of beard wearers, has congratulated Russ Cook (@hardestgeezer) on completing a 10,000 mile run across Africa and raising £570,000 for charity in the process.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-68756992

Cook has a magnificent organic beard and the campaigners say that it is beard power that helped to sustain him in his effort

BLF Organiser Keith Flett said, we congratulate Russ Cook. He could never have done it if he had to stop to shave

Campaigners issue guidelines for beard wearers as pollen count rises

Beard Liberation Front

6^th April

Contact BLF Organiser Keith Flett @kmflett

Campaigners issue guidelines for beard wearers as pollen count rises

The Beard Liberation Front, the informal network of beard wearers, has issued updated guidelines for the hirsute on the pollen count. It is forecast to be High on 6^th April by the Met Office for many areas of England and Wales

The campaigners say that the Hay Fever season has extended in recent years and appears to impact more people.

The issue of beards and pollen has seen contradictory advice from commentators, mostly based it appears on whether they like or dislike beards. The BLF research department has investigated and can now provide a more measured guide.

Guidelines for beard wearers in the Hay Fever season

1 The Beard can provide an effective barrier to pollen reaching the eyes and nose and provoking hay fever symptoms. More organic beards are most effective.

2 Pollen remaining in the beard for any significant amount of time can however also provoke hay fever. Care needs to be taken.

3 If using the beard as a barrier to pollen it is *essential* to comb it regularly to remove the pollen

4 In addition the follicles should also be washed regularly to clear any remaining pollen not caught by combing.

BLF Organiser Keith Flett said, our pollen guide is firmly dialectical. A beard can provide relief for hay fever sufferers but only if our guide is followed.

Beard Liberation Front says bread beards are fun but not sustainable

Beard Liberation Front

31st March

contact BLF Organiser Keith Flett @kmflett

The Beard Liberation Front, the informal network of beard wearers, has said bread beards of the kind posted on Twitter by Jim Moir are fun but not sustainable.

One of the campaigns founding principles is that people should be able to dress and appear as they want. For sustainable false beards, organic knitted material is preferred. However using bread temporarily is fun, with the proviso that clearly before long it will go stale and then mouldy.

BLF Organiser Keith Flett said, there is a strong link between bread, beer and follicles. A bread beard may nourish the hairs other things can’t reach.

Acclaimed writer & journalist David Jesudason voted Beard of Spring 2024

Beard Liberation Front

30th March

Contact Keith Flett @kmflett

Acclaimed writer & journalist David Jesudason voted Beard of Spring 2024

The Beard Liberation Front, the informal network of beard wearers, has said that award winning journalist & beer writer David Jesudason has been voted Beard of Spring 2024. He shaved author Michael Rosen in the Beard Off Final.

David Jesudason is the British Guild of Beer Writers, Beer Writer of the Year 2023 and author of Desi Pubs (CAMRA 2023) a widely acclaimed book that looks the history and current status of Anglo-Indian pubs that sell excellent Indian food combined with good beer.

Beard of Spring is the second of four seasonal awards that lead to the Beard of the Year in December.

The campaigners say that while the second seasonal award of the year traditionally focuses on new beard growth, the focus in 2024 is as much on those whose beards have appeared in a positive public light during the quarter. There are rather too many well-known public beard wearers who do not show the hirsute in a positive light at the moment.

BLF Organiser Keith Flett said, the Beard of Spring poll sets the beard-benchmark for the period ahead when beards can be flaunted in public as the weather hopefully improves. We congratulate David  Jesudason on his poll victory. He is someone who without doubt promotes a positive public image of the hirsute.

Close Shave Round One March 26th Sir Lenny Henry & Gareth Southgate shaved Owen Jones & Scottie Scheffler to be the first in the Beard Off Final

Close Shave Round Two March 27^th Michael Rosen & David Jesudason shaved Vaughan Gething & Andy Murray to complete the Beard Off Final list

Winner announced on Easter Saturday

Shortlist

Sir Lenny Henry, former Red Nose

Vaughan Gething, Welsh Labour leader

Michael Rosen, resilient beard wearer

Owen Jones, journalist & activist

Scottie Scheffler, golfer

Andy Murray, tennis player

Gareth Southgate, football manager

David Jesudason, Author & journalist