Kmflett's Blog

The trade paper the Morning Advertiser has published a list of the top ten selling cask beers for 2023

Sharp’s Doombar

Timothy Taylor’s Landlord

Greene King IPA

Fullers London Pride

Wainwright

Greene King Abbot Ale

St Austell Tribute

Marstons Pedigree

Butcombe Original

Harvey’s Sussex Best

The list is in order of volume of beer sold. The MA notes that volumes of some beers have fallen and others risen but there is nothing that dramatic in the figures

A key point is that all but three of the beers are produced by what might be termed Big Beer. Marstons which brews Pedigree and Wainwright is owned brewing wise by Carlsberg. Fullers is owned by Asahi and Greene King is owned by a Hong Kong based company. Butcombe is owned by Liberation although it might be arguable if it qualifies as Big Beer.

That leaves Harveys, St Austell and Timothy Taylor as the big selling independents. None is in Wetherspoons which with 800 pubs is probably the largest seller of cask beer. Greene King is in Spoons and it has a pub estate.

Its a mixed picture. Without the big cask producers cask beer would be in even more of a travail than it is often held to be. On the other hand if we are looking for choice on the bartops- of locally produced enviromentally friendly beers we might feel more campaigning is needed.

Beard Liberation Front

4th December

The Beard Liberation Front, the informal network of beard wearers, has said that the OUP word of the year ‘rizz’ short for charisma is by definition beard friendly. It refers to people who have style and charm which certainly applies to those on the Beard of the Year list 2023

BLF Organiser Keith Flett said, the opening rounds of the 2023 Beard of the Year will be underway shortly and the beard wearer with the most Rizz will revealed just after Christmas

Beard of the Year 2023 Longlist

Michael Rosen, author & Arsenal fan

Paul McCartney, musician

Jamie Driscoll, politician

Alexei Sayle, broadcaster

Lula da Silva, politician

Eric Cantona, personality

Humza Yousaf, politician

Billy Bragg, musician

Christopher Eccleston, actor

Steve Bell, cartoonist

Moeen Ali, cricketer

Virat Kohli, cricketer

BBC report on Rizz

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-67602699

Keir Starmer, Thatcher & the Great Moving Right Show

Keir Starmer’s support for Margaret Thatcher in the Sunday Telegraph (3^rd December) has already been subject to several Starmeresque clarifications. He told Radio 4’s Broadcasting House that it was Thatcher’s political leadership and ability to effect change not her policies that he liked. He later tweeted that of course Labour was the party of working people again.

There are several reasons why Starmer might have spoken of his liking for Thatcher.

Firstly because of the pettiness that has characterised his leadership. Its not something Jeremy Corbyn would have said, so in saying it, its proof Labour has changed. Two fingers to JC etc

Secondly why Labour retains a 20%ish lead in the polls Labour suits are clearly aware that a much higher than usual number of voters appear undecided how they will vote. They are disaffected Tories mainly who might vote Labour, might vote Reform or might not vote. This group suggests an electoral volatility beyond the polls. Its an interesting point though its not clear how the Telegraph article helps

Thirdly and perhaps most seriously because its part of Starmer’s Great Moving Right Show. Thatcher’s political project was hegemonic- it certainly influenced Blair. As the late Stuart Hall correctly noted it was not the idea of a hegemonic project that was the problem, it was that Blair copied Thatcher rather than creating one on the centre-left. Starmer appears to be following the same line.

Its not a surprise given both Blair and Mandelson clearly have his ear and it reminds of a note that Mandelson sent to Blair when he was Minister Without Portfolio 1997/8 (Cabinet Papers)

Its political genesis is a synthesis between the historical position of left and right. It is too simplistic to say it adopts ‘left’ values but is rightward in how to achieve them. It is probably more accurate to say that it has left values but is open about to achieve them and recognises that it was the right, not the left, that up to the end of the 80s was prepared to think more freely. Privatisation of certain industries or the sale of council homes or greater autonomy for schools could have been left ideas

March against the BNP, Welling 16th October 1993

Glenys Kinnock 1944-2023. MEP, Campaigner, Supporter of 1992 Anti Nazi League

Glenys Kinnock who has sadly died at 79 after a period of illness, was a teacher who became am MEP and briefly a Labour Minister. Its tempting perhaps to see her life as a rather politics from the top down affair.

One thing that provides another dimension is her high profile support for the re-launch of the Anti Nazi League in 1992.

Originally founded in 1977 to oppose the National Front it had been wound up in 1982 with the focus moving to organising against the Thatcherite Tory Government.

However it was launched again in 1992 as the rise of the BNP underlined that fascist organisation and attacks were once again a serious issue.

Tony Benn recorded in his diary on 15^th January 1992 a Socialist Campaign Group meeting where Peter Hain, Glenys Kinnock, Bernie Grant and Paul Holborow who supported the ANL re-launch had a ‘flaming row’ with Ken Livingstone who was supporting the Anti-Racist Alliance.

These particular divisions are part of history now, with racism and fascism on the rise across the globe, although the debates about how best to oppose it of course remain very much of the present.

 Its to Glenys Kinnock’s credit that she was prepared to get involved, and not just as a ‘name’ but as a consistent anti-fascist and anti-racist. It is unfortunately not something likely to feature in obituaries even though it should

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glenys_Kinnock

Keir Starmer from the Wapping picket line & Workers Control 1986 to backing Thatcher in the Telegraph 2023

Keir Starmer’s Great Moving Right Show is continuing with a front page of the Sunday Telegraph (3^rd December) praising Margaret Thatcher’s economic policies. As is normal with any Starmer public pronouncement these days a clarification swiftly followed. He told Radio 4’s Broadcasting House on Sunday morning that he was a fan of Thatcher’s political leadership and determination. Policies were not mentioned.

Even so for a Labour leader to say anything positive about Thatcher doesn’t go well with many, perhaps particularly with those of us old enough to remember all of his political career

Keir Starmer was at the Wapping mass pickets in 1986 & referenced it in his leadership campaign in 2020.

In the mid-1980s Keir Starmer was one of those involved in producing a small circulation magazine called Socialist Alternatives. Its politics were red-green, perhaps what might be described as Movementist. Young Keir was assistant editor, in what was a very small scale operation.

 He wrote about the Wapping dispute where he was an attender at the Saturday night mass pickets.

Wapping was one of the totemic disputes of the post-1945 era, where Rupert Murdoch busted out the print unions from the Sun and Times. The print unions from the perspective of 2022 were not entirely marvellous but they were well organised and hugely better than anything Murdoch had in mind. Following on from the defeat of the miners in 1984/5 this was very much part of Margaret Thatcher’s far too successful plan to break the organised working class.

I was often at the Wapping picket line myself on Saturday nights in 1986, as was Keir Starmer. Who knows we may have met, either at the picket or in the nearby(and still open) Artful Dodger pub where people stopped for a beer.

During the 2020 leadership contest Starmer used a video of himself at Wapping as part of his campaign.

Keir Starmer, Socialist Alternatives July/August 1986

Trade Unions in a Wapping World

The struggle for workers control means.. effective defense of the unions, supporting national and local pickets and a principled advocacy of solidarity action.

The Ambridge Socialist

December 3^rd

Jasper Carrot returns for the Ambridge Xmas

It appeared that Jasper Carrot’s short term contract at the Mail Box had concluded with Sykesy moving out of the Laurels. Now he looks set to team up with Jakob for a Christmas comedy festival focused on St Stephens. The vicar is hardly a comedic individual except when he has been drinking Tumble Tussocks but even if the gags are somewhat basic it could still be the best Ambridge Christmas ever

Village Idiot Tom revealed as a bully

Natasha and Tom have seized control at the tearooms and Tom has already been throwing his weight around with demands for unlikely (and inedible) dishes to be put on the menu together with silly name changes. It has proved too much even for Natasha who told Tom to hold off bullying Fallon

Grange Farm sale

Justin has tried to persuade Natasha that she should not bid for the Grange Farm land Oliver is selling, after earlier trying to stop Lilian bidding. On this occasion it didn’t work and Justin only succeeded in giving Natasha a way to improve her bid. The Ambridge ruling class is divided. We call on the Grundys to occupy the land to prevent its sale

Harry & the Horses

This is not a subject the Ambridge Socialist will be reporting on

Grey Gables…

There is no restaurant at Grey Gables and won’t be for a while. Instead Adil has sorted with Ian a pop up Polytunnel Pizza restaurant. Excellent idea, for Hackney Marshes anyway

Protest & People Power on Palestine. Being built from the bottom up

The focus for Palestine solidarity marches has been central London. The next is on Saturday December 9^th. Hundreds of thousands have marched and in the process got rid of a Tory Home Secretary, Braverman. The aim of the marches though is to get a ceasefire in Gaza and political rights for Palestinians, an outstanding question since at least 1948.

The national protests are important in terms of strength in numbers and publicity.

However in recent times things have changed. Not just a crumbling transport infrastructure which might make some think about a day trip to London (lest it last more than a day..)but also and perhaps particularly since the pandemic the UK is an entity is fracturing.

On 2^nd December a day of local action there were protests across London including a very well attended meeting in Tower Hamlets and marches in Enfield, Islington, Tottenham and many other areas of London.

There were marches in Cardiff and Glasgow and protests in many other area

Roots of a movement calling for peace in Palestine are being built in communities and workplaces far away from Westminster. Official politics and the media  understands little about it.

A movement being built not in London Head Offices (though they have a part) but from the bottom up. As E P Thompson wrote in Homage to Tom Maguire the labour movement in the 1890s was built not in those London HQs but in those ‘shadowy parts’ known as the provinces. It put down deep roots and solidarity with Palestinians is doing the same 140 years on.

Cold Nights, Rough Sleeping as a ‘lifestyle choice’ & Winter night shelters

This week has seen a series of cold nights where many will be concerned about how much heating their residence is costing. But for others a combination of a cost of living crisis and a housing crisis means that the issue is to find somewhere to shelter from the cold on the streets.

In London the Mayor has made provision for night shelters on freezing nights, reflecting an understanding that despite what Suella Braverman once claimed rough sleeping is not a lifestyle choice.

The late socialist historian Raph Samuel wrote about Comers and Goers in the Victorian City (in H J Dyos and Michael Wolff Volume 1) and not so much has changed in the last 150 years.

One area he noted was the then newly constructed Thames Embankment which was designed by Bazalgette and built from 1862. Samuel notes that ‘its character was reinforced by the shelters built at either end (The Salvation Army’s Penny Sit Up at Blackfriars and the Morning Post’s Embankment Home at Millbank); by charitable distributions of food (such as the Eustace Miles Food Barrow at Cleopatra’s Needle, and by the nightly distribution of relief tickets underneath the Craven St arches (2000 men were assembling their nightly in October 1908). The ‘lynx eyed Metropolitan Police’(as they were defined by General Booth) after attempting to drive the tramps away, were by 1910 treating the Embankment as a ‘kind of corral’ where large numbers of tramps were conveniently assembled under the direct observation of law and order’

Beard Liberation Front

2^nd December

contact BLF Organiser Keith Flett 07803 167266

Stockton North MP wins first Close Shave Vote for Parliamentary Beard of the Year

The Beard Liberation Front, the informal network of beard wearers, has said that Stockton North MP Alex Cunningham has won the first Close Shave vote for Parliamentary Beard of the Year with 43% of the vote. Leeds MP Fabian Hamilton was second with 27%.

Both MPs will now go to a Beard Off final vote after the second Close Shave round of voting where another two MPs will join them for the final vote. This opens on Sunday. The Parliamentary Beard of the Year 2023 will be announced on 15^th December.

Mr Cunningham and his Stockton North Constituency have been the subject of abuse from Home Secretary James Cleverley. Mr Cleverley’s exclusion from the shortlist was confirmed following a vote of BLF supporters.

BLF Organiser Keith Flett said, James Cleverley has brought the hirsute into disrepute and Alex Cunnigham’s victory in the first Close Shave round of voting for Parliamentary Beard of the Year is a positive response to that.

CAMPAIGN FOR REAL SANTAS

Organised by the Beard Liberation Front

2^nd December

Contact Keith Flett 07803 167266

Real Santas are Woke

The Campaign for Real Santas, which promotes Santas with genuine organic beards, has launched its 2023 initiative to promote real Santas with genuine beards by warning people to be aware of absurd false bearded Santas as the busiest pre-Christmas shopping weekends get underway.

The Campaign says that a good way to sport a Real Santa is that they are Woke. This means both that they are wide awake and not dozing off while dribbling into their beard and that their greetings are inclusive but also include F*ck Off Boris Johnson

The Campaigners say that with unemployment and under-employment amongst mature men over 50, there is absolutely no reason for anyone to use an assistant Santa who does not have a real beard.

At the same time the Campaign is also keen to encourage more female Santas with organic knitted beards.

Campaigners are urging parents and children to demand that Santas vigorously tug their beards as a definitive test as to whether they are in the presence of a real Santa or not.

CFRS organiser Keith Flett said, Christmas decorations and lights are up in main High Streets and Christmas tat is everywhere. Our task of exposing false bearded Santas is more important than ever. Woke Santas are the way forward

FOUR STEPS TO SPOT A GENUINE WOKE SANTA

1 Ask the Santa to tug their beard. If it comes away, then the Santa is FAKE

2 If the beard remains intact ask the Santa to tug their beard again. If the Santa swears then they are genuine. If they simply repeat a ‘ho ho ho’ mantra they are FAKE

3 The Campaign for Real Santas says that genuine Santas must have just the right mix of bonhomie and grumpiness and a real organic beard.

4 This includes inclusive Ho Ho Hoing combined with a grumpy F*ck Off Boris Johnson

The Organic Santa of 2023 will be named on December 18th. In 2020, 2021 and 2022 Michael Rosen and Brian Blessed have been key contenders for the annual honour

The Campaign for Real Santas is organised by the Beard Liberation Front