Jeremy Corbyn has been announced winner of the parliamentary beard of the year competition for the sixth time.
The prize is organised by the Beard Liberation Front, which describes itself as an “informal network of beard wearers”. The group had warned that the Labour leader’s hold on the title was under threat from SNP MP for Glasgow South Stewart McDonald.
“As things currently stand it looks like Stewart McDonald will be taking Jeremy Corbyn to the barbers but there is still time for things to change,” said organiser Keith Flett ahead of the polls closing at 6pm on Thursday.
Corbyn’s victory seems to have been secured when shadow international development minister Diane Abbott tweeted to encourage people to vote for the Labour party leader.
McDonald came second and Conservative cabinet minister Stephen Crabb – the first bearded Tory cabinet minister since 1905 –was third.
Beard Liberation Front confirms Parliamentary Beard of Year poll winners: 1 @jeremycorbyn 2 @StewartMcDonald 3 @scrabbmp Well done to all
— keith flett (@kmflett) December 11, 2015
“I think it’s fair to say he won by a whisker,” Flett told the Mirror. “There was a late surge. I think Diane Abbott might have had something to do with it. We’ll of course keep a close eye to make sure everything was done right.”
“It was very narrow this year, and I think the SNP guy, Stuart McDonald – well, he’s an up-and-coming beard,” Flett told the Daily Politics.
The shortlist also included Labour MP Paul Flynn, Conservative MP Rob Wilson, and the new MP for Oldham West, Jim McMahon, who stormed to victory in a byelection this month.
The competition was first held in 2001, when it was won by Corbyn. Previous winners include former Labour cabinet ministers Robin Cook in 2003 and David Blunkett in 2005. Former Respect party MP George Galloway won the title in 2006.
