Kmflett's Blog

Game of Royal Titles

Ahead of the Coronation in May King Charles has been re-arranging some Royal titles.

Harry and Meghan may be disenchanted with Royalty but their children have now become Prince Archie of Sussex and Princess Lilibet of Sussex

Meanwhile the King’s youngest brother Edward has become the Duke of Edinburgh and his wife Sophie the Duchess of Edinburgh. Its not clear how this has gone down in Holyrood but the two Royals do actually work in ,er, promoting the Monarchy and its image. Not an easy job in 2023 but a very well paid one.

Their son James, Viscount Severn, aged 15 will become Earl of Wessex and then Earl of Forfar. He will not be able to become Duke of Edinburgh in due course thanks to a tradition King Charles has just made up.

There may be a few more titles to come.The Royal Family is at least good at inventing and tweaking tradition. The Duke of Ediburgh title was invented by George 1st in 1726 but fell into disuse in 1760. Queen Victoria reinvented it in 1866

Remembering Bob Crow 13th June 1961-11th March 2014. Activist & union leader

It’s the eleventh anniversary of the untimely death of Bob Cow.

I have specific memories of Bob not just as one of the outstanding trade union leaders of his time, and someone who died far too young, but as a grassroots activist.

Bob Crow was a delegate to Haringey TUC in the 1980s as a young trade union activist on the London Underground and never forgot his links to the north-east London labour movement, speaking down the years at Haringey TUC meetings and events.

The RMT leader is remembered in the local labour movement as someone who had principles, stuck to them and fought for them to the benefit of the people he represented

Bob Crow’s untimely death 10 years ago on 11th March was a sad loss not just to the entire labour movement but to British public life. While he rose to become probably the most famous Union leader of his generation he always continued to engage with his roots in the labour movement. He was willing to help out Trades Councils, and he was as happy speaking to a meeting of a few activists if it helped to get things organised as much as to a big rally.

Keith Flett is a former Secretary of Haringey TUC and remains an active socialist and trade unionist

Beard Liberation Front

13th March

Contact Keith Flett 07803 167266

BEARD OF IRELAND 2023 POLL SEES COMPETITION BRISTLING

The Beard Liberation Front, the informal network of beard wearers, has said that competition for the Irish Beard of the Year 2023 is officially open.

William Crawley won the first Trim Off round with over 50% of the vote with Peter Coles second. Both now go to the Beard Off poll where they will be joined by the winners of the second Trim Off round

The 2017 winner was politician Colum Eastwood who bearded broadcaster William Crawley for the annual Award.

In 2018 the DUP’s Lee Reynolds shaved writer Dominic O’Reilly for the honour with Colum Eastwood in a steady third place.

In 2019 Lee Reynolds retained the title

The 2020 winner was Maynooth academic Peter Coles

In 2021 Aodhan Connolly shaved opponents to win the coveted title and he retained it in 2022

The BLF says that while traditionally a land of predominantly clean-shaven cultures, Ireland has in recent times become something of a centre for stylish and trendy beards.

Contenders for the title in 2023 include a diverse range of the hirsute- a golfer, rugby player, political and trade union activists, a broadcaster, an academic

The campaigners say the poll is specifically about the impact the beard of an individual has made in Irish public life and no other factor.

BLF Organiser Keith Flett said, competition for the 2023 Beard of Ireland Award will no doubt bristle with the winner announced on 17th March

There will be two preliminary Beard Off votes. The top two from each round will then go on to a Best Beard of Ireland vote

Beard of Ireland 2023

William Crawley, broadcaster

Matthew O’Toole, politician

Jamison Gibson-Park, rugby player

Peter Coles, academic, Maynooth University

Shane Lowry, golfer

Aodhán Connolly, Businessman

Colum Eastwood politician

Owen Reidy, General Secretary ICTU

Guardian Fletter on why Standing Up to Racism & protesting on 18^th March is important

Small boats carrying refugees to the coast of England could be stopped by opening safe and legal routes. The government won’t do that because it prefers to promote a xenophobic bill to appeal to a hardcore of Tory MPs and a minority of voters (Editorial, 7 March). Speaking out against the bill is important – but words are not enough. Stand Up to Racism, supported by the TUC, has organised Resist Racism marches on 18 March in London, Cardiff and Glasgow. It is time for people to show which side they are on.

Keith Flett

Tottenham, London (10^th March)

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/mar/09/contempt-for-refugees-laid-bare-in-tories-small-boats-plan

The long standing Tory Culture War has taken a new twist today after two of the most respected broadcasters found themselves cancelled by the BBC. Gary Lineker has ‘stepped down’ that is purged from presenting Match of the Day following Tory complaints about his tweets on Suella Braverman’s latest racist legislation on refugees. Meanwhile a programme in David Attenborough’s new series focusing on climate change has reportedly been dropped because it might annoy Tories.

The BBC which has many excellent journalists, technicians and support workers is bringing itself into disrepute. Unfortunately Labour has not backed Lineker’s comments just his right to make them. The self styled Free Speech Union has at best equivocated. As the slogan goes,make some noise and noise has been made.

Indeed noise was made. Presenters Ian Wright, Alan Shearer and Alex Scott declined to appear on BBC football coverage and Saturday’s football coverage was mostly pulled.Match of the Day lasted 20 minutes with no commentary and Sunday coverage, or lack of it was similar. An unofficial strike has taken place, albeit those involved are freelancers and can do it without a ballot!

The broadcasting union BECTU renewed calls for Richard Sharp whose own impartiality is being investigated to be suspended and social media had ample reminders that Tim Davie is a former Tory supporter and candidate.

Keir Starmer has underlined that in a supposed effort to be impartial the BBC has made itself look partisan and Rishi Sunak has conceded that the Government’s refugee policy was controversial.

In short this is a Culture War that the Tories and right-wing media are continuing to loose.

The substantive issue is to resist racism and Braverman’s Bill. That requires more than words. Stand Up To Racism backed by the TUC is organising protests in London,Glasgow and Cardiff on Saturday March 18th. Be there if you can

There was a By-Election in my Ward of Haringey Council- Tottenham Hale- on Thursday.I made sure to vote- after all without the Chartists and Suffragettes the right would not exist for many.

I voted Labour (that is for another post) and Labour’s candidate Sean O’Donovan won with 58% of the poll.

With my polling card came another slip of paper which told me that I didnt need ID to vote. I have ID but the note underlines that after April everyone will need ID to vote.Evidence of voter impersonation doesnt exist. This is an effort to frustrate people the Tories assume don’t support them from voting.It will particularly impact the less well off and that sums up, for example, much of Tottenham Hale Ward.

Its an effort by the Tories to start to unpick the work of the Chartists and Suffragettes. There is still time to stop it

Oops I did it again is sung by Britney Spears but has been covered by Richard Thompson (picture)

Gary Lineker is a rightly celebrated England footballer and long time host of the BBC’s Match of the Day.

He is a freelancer rather than a BBC Employee but he has come under fire from the usual suspects, the Express, Mail and Telegraph because he has been critical of Suella Braverman’s latest performative Culture War on the refugees coming to Britain.

You might think Lineker is some kind of lefty but actually he’s quite mainstream. A critic of Jeremy Corbyn and an associate of Alastair 45 minutes Campbell in a hugely popular podcast series The Rest is History.

Criticism of Lineker represents an attempted lurch to the right in British politics and it needs to be opposed not just verbally but in person.

On UN Anti-Racism Day on 18th March Stand Up to Racism supported by the TUC is organising marches in Cardiff, Glasgow and London. Be there if you can. Defend Lineker, Defend Refugees

Beard Liberation Front

9th Ma

|Can a beard save Conte & Spurs

The Beard Liberation Front, the informal network of beard wearers, has reacted to a suggestion by Arsenal fan and potential North London Super League Supremo Michael Rosen, that Spurs manager Antonio Conte might do better with a beard.

Conte famously had a beard when managing Chelsea but shaved it off after ‘advice’ from his partner and daughter.

The BLF says that at Chelsea Conte showed signs of understanding footballing beard power but this may not work so well at Spurs

BLF Organiser Keith Flett said, Harry Kane is the Beard Power at Spurs and its not clear a Conte beard would help

Beard Liberation Front

PRESS RELEASE 8th March Keith Flett 07803 167266

BRITISH PIE WEEK. STEAK & ALE VOTED MOST BEARD FRIENDLY PIE

The Beard Liberation Front, the informal network of beard wearers, has said that with British Pie Week running from 6-12th March its annual poll on the most Beard Friendly Pie has seen Steak and Ale just shave the Pork Pie and the Butter Pie for the coveted accolade.

The hirsute campaign group say that as with many prepared foods the requirements of people with beards are often overlooked when it comes to pies. The outcome of the annual poll often reflects that, with traditional pies designed for eating ‘on the go’ easily beating leading pie brands.

The BLF says that common issues with pies for those with beards are:

Excessive gravy

Puff or flaky pastry which ends up in the beard not the mouth

‘Deep filling’ making it difficult to avoid contact of the pie with the beard

The campaigners cite some types of the traditional steak and kidney pie as an example of pies which are made without thought for the requirements of the hirsute pie consumer. Such pies often have excessive gravy- and comparatively little steak and kidney- which ends up in the beard.

Unfortunately the same issues tend to apply to many vegetarian and vegan pies too

BLF Organiser Keith Flett said, Steak and Ale (with the alternative of Seitan for non-meat eaters) when made to beard friendly standards will see the ale gravy bind the meat into a delicious mixture where the pie ends up in the mouth not the beard.

Finalists

Steak/Seitan & Ale

Fish

Butter/Cheese & Onion

Pork

London Socialist Historians Group

8^th March

Contact Dr Keith Flett 07803 167266

Historians back Gary Lineker’s comments on refugees

The London Socialist Historians Group, which organises the socialist history seminar at the Institute of Historical Research, University of London, has backed Gary Lineker’s comments on the Government’s latest Refugee Bill.

While Suella Braverman said she was disappointed in the comments and Yvette Cooper said they were inappropriate, placing the Bill in a historical context is important say the historians.

The late socialist historian E P Thompson (Peculiarities of the English,1965) made the point about refugees from Nazi Germany and elsewhere and the positive impact they have had on British life

Here is this island, and there, across a few wet miles, are Other Countries. Those waters have, on occasion, been crossed. That city, London, is not in the Antarctic but has been, alongside Paris, Vienna and Prague, a great European capital. In its East End there have been deposit after deposit of refugee and immigrant workers. In the universities there have been deposit after deposit of émigré intellectuals. Across that water there came, in the 1930s, wave after wave of refugees from Fascism; across that water there went, in the early 1940s, wave after wave of troops to assist in the liberation of Southern and Western Europe; and across that water there came, in the later 1940s and 1950s, a further wave of refugees from Eastern Europe.

LSHG Convenor Dr Keith Flett said, Gary Lineker has added an historical context to this which others clearly want to avoid. Of course while the current Government’s policy on refugees is on the hard right, its not a re-run of the Nazis. However the demonisation of refugees is part of a process that can lead in that direction if its not opposed. We’ll be joining the Stand Up to Racism demonstration on UN Anti-Racism Day on the 18^th March in central London because while remembering history is vital so also is taking part in making the future.