Beard Liberation Front
Media Release 20th November
Contact BLF Organiser Keith Flett 07803 167266
Beard Liberation Front confirms that when it comes to Grant Shapps not all beards are equal
The Beard Liberation Front, the informal network of beard wearers, has confirmed that when it comes to Transport Minister Grant Shapps not all beards are equal.
The point was raised by the Londoners Diary in the Evening Standard this week in relation to the earlier BLF statement that Shapps would not be eligible for the Parliamentary Beard of the Year Award
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The Beard Liberation Front have announced that Grant Shapps is to be barred from their Parliamentary beard of the year contest. Shapps, now clean shaven, had been pictured in Dartmoor with bristly chops. The BLF blasted his beard as “one of convenience” because they said it only appeared after a bike accident left him unable to shave. Aren’t all beards created equal?
Shapps appeared with a beard at the re-opening ceremony for Okehampton rail station this week. However it is believed that the beard relates to temporary shaving issues that Shapps has had following a recent bike accident.
The campaigners have clarified the equality of beards issue.
The BLF does not judge beards, beyond applying a basic dividing line between stubble and a beard (the Spaghetti Western test). It is however concerned that a beard has a degree of permanence particularly in respect of awards like Parliamentary Beard of the Year.
Secondly the BLF does make a broad judgement about whether the public impact of a beard and its wearer promotes a positive view of the hirsute, or otherwise. In some cases it is felt that some beard wearers bring the hirsute into disrepute.
BLF Organiser Keith Flett said, we don’t judge between beards but we do look at their public impact. We hope Grant Shapps keeps his new beard and it is viewed positively but the BLF jury is out as it were.
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