Beard Liberation Front
18th November
Contact BLF Organiser Keith Flett 07803 167266
Grant Shapps not eligible for Parliamentary Beard of the Year campaigners say
The Beard Liberation Front, the informal network of beard wearers, has said that Transport Secretary Grant Shapps is not eligible for the Parliamentary Beard of the Year 2021 shortlist.
Shapps appeared with a full beard at the re-opening ceremony for Okehampton rail station on Wednesday. However it is believed that the beard is simply one of convenience after Shapps had a recent accident on his bike that may make shaving problematic.
The BLF says that Shapps would need to have more than a temporary beard and to display a positive image of the hirsute in the public eye and it is thought he would fail to meet the criteria for the shortlist on both counts.
Eight candidates will attempt to shave each other for the coveted annual accolade. Last year’s winner Stuart Anderson MP has mislaid his beard during the year and does not feature.
The winner of Parliamentary Beard of the Year will be announced on 14th December
BLF Organiser Keith Flett said, we’re always pleased to see more MPs wearing beards but Mr Shapps needs to show more hirsute consistency before becoming eligible for any BLF Awards
Parliamentary Beard of the Year 2021 shortlist
Jeremy Corbyn, (Independent, Islington North)
Andy McDonald (Labour, Middlesbrough)
Jon Trickett (Labour, Hemsworth)
Stephen Crabb (Tory, Preseli)
Stephen Kinnock (Labour, Aberavon)
Colum Eastwood (SDLP, Foyle)
Stewart McDonald (SNP, Glasgow South)
Simon Fell (Tory, Barrow & Furness)
Voting will start on 1st December. Two preliminary close shave rounds will provide four finalists for a Beard Off round with the result announced on 14th December
Leave a Reply