Kmflett's Blog

Good to see Andy Burnham, who wrote the foreword to Manchester’s Best Beer Pubs and Bars, back in parliament (Report, 19 June). Separately, I hope that’s closing time for Morgan McSweeney.
Keith Flett
Tottenham, London

Guardian 19th June 2026

Beard Liberation Front

26th June

Contact BLF Organiser Keith Flett @keithbeard.bsky.social

Andy Burnham’s eyebrows could be key factor in his Premiership

The Beard Liberation Front, the informal network of beard wearers, has said that Andy Burnham’s gravitas adding eyebrows could be a key factor in his forthcoming Premiership

On 24th June in the Commons Tory leader Kemi Badenoch criticised Burnham’s eyelashes and black T look (he riposted on social media that the T was dark blue). In reality its his eyebrows which are the key.

There are several angles on the public utilisation of eyebrows. Both Jeremy Corbyn and Brazil football manager Carlo Ancelotti specialise in raising one eyebrow at key moments.

Burnham takes a different approach, preferring a full on eyebrow impact.

Burnham is clean shaven but is far from un-hirsute. In particular his eyebrows are a significant presence, considerably more impactful than the perpetually clean shaven Keir Starmer.

BLF organiser Keith Flett said, Andy Burnham must seek Denis Healey eyebrow impact and gravitas. He will need to promote further eyebrow growth and we suggest daily marination in imperial stout could be the way forward

The Mayor of New York Zohran Mamdani, who was named Hirsute Personality of the Year this week, spoke to Mark Chapman about sport and community.

Mamdani has been celebrating the Knicks winning the US Basketball league after 53 years and also Arsenal, he is a fan, winning the Premiership.

Mamdani reveals he was originally a chess player but then moved to basketball and football. He also notes a love of cricket although he offered no view on Ben Stokes.

Mamdani is a democratic socialist, and he notes that the US World Cup game later will be screened free on street kiosks in NY underlining that the game should be about fans and community not profit

Football Daily – NYC Mayor Mamdani on hosting the World Cup, USMNT & Andy Burnham – BBC Sounds

The 1976 heatwave began on 23rd June. On 27th June Tony Benn recorded in his diary, ‘Still boiling hot, I think 95F yesterday. The Observer had a piece on the Energy Conference’.

Benn who was Energy Secretary in the Labour Government was working on measures to address energy use and climate change. 50 years on we are still at it. Progress in history can be too slow.

Beard Liberation Front

26^th June

Media Release. Contact BLF Organiser Keith Flett @keithbeard.bsky.social

National Beard Week, Nigel Farage named as Beard Hater of the Year 2026

The Beard Liberation Front, the informal network of beard wearers, has named Nigel Farage as Beard Hater of the Year 2026 as part of National Beard Week.

The campaigners say that Farage is perpetually clean shaven, aside from a brief period in 2016 when he grew a dubious moustache before quickly shaving it off.

While there are Reform UK Election candidates with beards it’s clear that the vetting process is rarely properly carried out and this may well account for the anomaly.

The BLF says that while anti-beard comments allegedly made by Farage in the past cannot be verified, it’s apparent that the traditional stereotype of beard wearers as left-wing or nonconformist is something Farage hates.

BLF Organiser Keith Flett said, we expect Nigel Farage to wear the title of Beard Hater of the Year as a Badge of Honour

Monday 22nd June: Hirsute Personality of the Year: the beard wearer who has made the positive public impact during the year. 2026 winner- Zohran Mamdani

Tuesday 23rd June: Beard Friendly Sandwich of the Year: the sandwich that goes in the mouth not the beard. 2026: Chip Butty

Wednesday 24th June: Hirsute Broadcaster of the Year: the broadcaster whose beard has had the most public impact. 2026 James O’Brien

Thursday 25th June: Pogonophobe of the Year: the most notorious beard hater of the year; 2026 Nigel Farage

Friday 26th June: Beard Friendly Employer of the Year: TBA

Saturday 27th June: Beard of Summer 2026: the third of the four quarterly seasonal Awards 2026 TBA

The King attending a London Climate Week reception on 23rd June was accompanied by his official fan holder Admiral Sir Tony Johnstone, the Master of the Household. It’s unclear whether the Admiral is a trained fan holder (Daily Telegraph 24th June 2026)

These days its not a weatherman but a YouGov poll that is required to know which way the wind blows.

Comparisons are being made with the hot summer of 1976 which began on 23rd June 1976. Temperatures this week have gone a bit higher but (we shall see) 1976 lasted a lot longer.

An interesting take away from the above poll is that at 24% Reform supporters are the most likely to say that they are enjoying the current temperature. Presumably they are thinking back to 1976 when the National Front was just getting into its stride of marching and breaking up meetings… Also of course they don’t believe in climate change so what’s not to like??

Results for Scotland in particular may have been influenced by the reality that it is not quite so hot there…

The poll was taken on 24th June 2026.

People were also polled by politics. This revealed that 24% of Reform supporters like it hot (the biggest percentage)…