Beard Liberation Front
20th February
Contact: Keith Flett 07803 167266
Starmer needs a beard to address poll problems
The Beard Liberation Front, the informal network of beard wearers, has recommended that Labour leader Keir Starmer address Labour’s persistent problem of failing to take a poll lead over the Tories by changing his image and growing a beard.
The recommendation comes after a meeting of BLF image experts to review the Starmer question.
The beard experts have said that repeated tweaks to Labour’s policy positions are not getting across to voters. They note that Boris Johnson has no set and discernible policies aside from promoting himself and staying in office for the time being.
However the beard experts report underlines that Johnson does have a clear image with voters. While this is unpopular with many, the deliberately tousled hair and generally unkempt appearance appears to cut through with voters.
Starmer by contrast comes across as a rather generic clean shaven man in a suit with a sharp haircut and as such presents a rather anonymous image.
The beard experts have unanimously agreed that the way forward for Starmer is to grow a gravitas adding beard. They note that the Labour leader may be reluctant to do this given it might associate him with the well-known appearance of the immediate past leader of the Party.
However they say there are a vast range of beard styles available and Starmer could easily adopt one that emphasised both a sharp appearance and wisdom.
BLF Focus groups have been shown a range of hirsute images of Keir Starmer. So far the outcome is:
A fully organic beard is preferred by younger participants
A more restrained, styled beard is backed by other participants
Both groups prefer a hirsute image of any sort over the clean shaven suit appearance which they suggested is ‘untrustworthy’
The BLF has now decided to consult more widely on what image is the way forward for Keir Starmer’s poll ratings:
BLF Organiser Keith Flett said, whether it is liked or not modern politics is a lot about image and Keir Starmer needs to radically change his to connect with voters. We hope he will take the recommendation of our panel of image experts and the BLF convened focus groups seriously and try growing a beard.
Starter needs to respect Wimmin.