Kmflett's Blog

Beard Liberation Front

24^th June

contact BLF Organiser Keith Flett @keithbeard.bsky.social

National Beard Week 2026 James O’Brien named Hirsute Broadcaster of the Year

The Beard Liberation Front, the informal network of beard wearers, has said that LBC’s James O’Brien has been named the Hirsute Broadcaster of the Year 2026.

The campaigners say that O’Brien has stood out as a broadcaster willing to challenge the too often dominant Faragist narrative in the media

The campaigners also say that the world of broadcasting remains largely Pogonophobic despite Jeremy Paxman’s high-profile comments on the matter in his final months as presenter of Newsnight in 2013

BLF Organiser Keith Flett said, James O’Brien presents a positive image of the hirsute willing to take on the clean shaven falsehoods so often found in the media.

Beard Liberation Front

23rd June

The Beard Liberation Front, the informal network of beard wearers, has said that England’s 0-0 draw with Ghana in the Men’s Football World Cup on Tuesday reflected manager Thomas Tuchel’s dithering on the all important follicle question.

Tuchel was clean shaven for England’s first match against Croatia which England won 4-2.

However for the Ghana match he had started to grow a beard but had not completed the job by kick-off

The result was that Tuchel sent messages of follicle indecision to the players on the pitch.

BLF Organiser Keith Flett said, Ghana were far superior in the follicle department and this proved crucial in securing them a draw. Tuchel needs to work out a clear facial hair strategy before the Panama game

It might be thought that the Farage riots are a recent thing covering tragic events in Southport and Southampton. In fact ten years ago after the June 23rd Referendum had backed Brexit Farage was already predicting riots

In November 2016 he was once again the current leader of UKIP and told the Marr show on BBC1 (6.11.16) that if Brexit was blocked there would be anger, political violence and riots. A report is here:

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/nigel-farage-warns-there-could-be-riots-if-brexit-is-blocked-a3388331.html

Farage himself was careful on this occasion to back ‘peaceful protest’.

The Kaiser Chiefs famously sang that they ‘predict a riot’  but in fact this is not possible.

23rd June is the 10th anniversary of Brexit and Nigel Farage who has been avoiding public appearances could hardly refuse media interviews.

They did not go well because he was pressed about the recent £5m donation’ from Thai billionaire Christopher Harbourne. Farage has retailed various stories about what the money was for. He originally claimed it was for his security, then he said it was a gift related to his Brexit campaigning.

Today he changed his line again. He claimed that he could spend the £5m on Ferrari cars or placing bets on the horses but ultimately it was he told interviewers ‘none of your business’.

On display was not the cheery friendly Nigel Farage but another reality a tetchy, nasty individual who even though he is an MP thinks he should not be subject to public scrutiny.

Beard Liberation Front

Press release contact BLF Organiser Keith Flett 07803 167266

23rd June

National Beard Week Chip Butty named Beard Friendly Sandwich 2026

The Beard Liberation Front, the informal network of beard wearers, has said that the humble Chip Butty has been voted most Beard Friendly Sandwich 2026.

Each year during National Beard Week in June the campaigners search for a sandwich that does not have excessive mayo or salad which tends up in the beard rather than the mouth.

With the rise of designer sandwiches the bread around the sandwich filling, whether a traditional slice, flat bread or ciabatta, often fails to contain the contents which can then spill out into the beard even with the most careful eating.

BLF Organiser Keith Flett, of course a Chip Butty may have added vinegar, tomato or brown sauce or mayo but these are all under the control of the beard wearer. It is a simple but very beard friendly pleasure

Beard Friendly Sandwich 2026 Result

1 Chip Butty 72.2%

2 Smoked Salmon 38.9%

3 Bacon(or Facon) 44.4%

4 Cheese (Onion or Marmite) 44.5%

There were parallel polls on BlueSky and Twitter hence the vote is out of a maximum of 200%

This could have been Led By Donkeys but in fact its an effective piece of agitprop from the LibDems who arent particularly associated with such methods. Still kudos to them for an effective intervention. And yes I voted Remain 10 years ago, and, no, I am not a fan of the EU but even less of a fan of Farage which is where that vote led (tho it could have led in different directions, that’s the 2026 reality)

With Andy Burnham being swore in as an MP on 22nd June 2026 with the distinct possibility of becoming PM in a few weeks, first impressions and image and impact are key. One of Keir Starmer’s issue was that the image was often not of a political leader but a provincial bank manager.

Andy Burnham’s trade mark image is a well tailored jacket and T-shirt. It’s a sort of man of the people image, a concept that goes back at least to the Chartists in the 1840s.

However this afternoon in the Commons, Burnham was wearing a tie and not even a red one. That said the Commons Speaker who is notoriously obsessed about dress codes would probably have rebuked Burnham if he appeared tieless. The Speaker’s dress code remit does not however rule outside the House

Its too early to say but the man of the people image might work better than the suit and tie in 2026

Beard Liberation Front

22^nd June

Contact BLF Organiser Keith Flett 07803 167266

Heatwave: Beard Liberation Front permits shaving based on Marx’s example from April 1882

The Beard Liberation Front, the informal network of beard wearers, has said that for the second time in a month it is permitting supporters to temporarily shave their beards due to hot weather in parts of the UK which is forecast to continue for at least the next week.

The campaigners say that there is a precedent in beard history for the move. When Marx travelled to Algeria in 1882 just before the end of his life he found conditions so hot that he shaved his iconic beard.

However the advice is a guideline only and the BLF says that some may simply wish to trim their beards a little as this can protect against the sun and have a general cooling influence

BLF Organiser Keith Flett said, the problem is that in the kind of hot weather that is forecast the strength of the sun can damage the follicles and cause serious harm to the beard. By trimming the area of follicles exposed to the sun this can be reduced.

He continued, alternatively as an exceptional measure we are permitting shaving of the beard this week. It is really up to individuals whether they follow the example of Karl Marx