Beard Liberation Front
Media Release 21st July
Contact Keith Flett 07803 167266
Campaigners say Russians interfered with 2017 Beard of the Year poll
United Kingdom’s Prince Harry speaks during the opening ceremonies of the the2017 Invictus Games in Toronto, Canada Sept. 23, 2017. (DoD photo by EJ Hersom)
The Beard Liberation Front, the informal network of beard wearers, has said that the belatedly released ‘Russian Report’ into interference in UK affairs throws no further light on intervention by Russian bots in the 2017 Beard of the Year poll.
The Annual Award was won by then Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn who shaved Prince Harry for the honour
The BLF said at the time:
There were 23,600 votes cast in the on-line poll and there was worldwide interest particularly from the USA, Germany and Russia which in the final week saw Prince Harry and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn splitting hairs for the annual honour.
The Result
Jeremy Corbyn 13,365
Prince Harry 9,480
Moeen Ali 210
The campaigners say that contrary to what might be thought Russian bots intervened to support Prince Harry, with some evidence that US bots were doing the same.
BLF Organiser Keith Flett said, trying to work out the precise motivation for Russian interference in the 2017 Beard of the Year poll remains work in progress. What I can say is that it caused a real headache at the time and we had to put extra security on the poll.
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