Beard Liberation Front
Media Release 23rd November
Contact BLF Organiser Keith Flett 07803 167266
Scottish Health Minister dropped from Beard of the Year longlist over Two-Tier NHS issue
The Beard Liberation Front, the informal network of beard wearers, has said that Scottish Health Minister Humza Yousaf has been dropped from the Beard of the Year longlist.
Reports have indicated that Scottish NHS bosses have considered a two-tier health service where the better off pay for treatment- in effect means testing. Mr Yousaf has made it clear that he does not support the idea but as the politician responsible for the NHS in Scotland accountability does rest with him
The Beard of the Year Award was first given in 2000 when the late Frank Dobson won. Author and broadcaster Michael Rosen won the on-line poll in 2021.
The longlist will be shaved to a shortlist at the end of November and after semi-finals and a final the winner will be announced on 28th December
The campaigners say that the criteria for inclusion on the longlist remain the same as in previous years:
A nominee must have had a beard for most of the calendar year
The beard wearer must have provided a positive public image of the hirsute
Beard lengths and styles are not taken into account.
BLF Organiser Keith Flett said, the Beard of the Year Award is all about beard wearers making a positive public impact for the hirsute. Unfortunately Mr Yousaf doesn’t now meet that criteria albeit it can be accepted that this is due to matters not entirely under his control
Beard of the Year Shave Off Round One
Top 2 plus highest placed 3rd go forward to the shortlist
Beard of the Year longlist
Bob Geldoff
Roy Keane
Benjamin Zephaniah
Daniel Radcliffe
Brian Eno
Graham Norton
Michael Rosen
Moeen Ali
Alan Moore
Rylan Clark-Neal
Alexei Sayle
Robert Plant
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