Moz animal rights row

- as tour dates confirmed

16 Jan 06 - A politician - and organisations attacked by animal rights activists - are calling for an investigation into comments by Morrissey that appear to back violent tactics against laboratory scientists and fur farmers.

According to the Sunday Times, the former Smiths frontman made his remarks in an interview with online fanzine True To You.

In a Q&A section on the site, comments attributed to Morrissey state: "I support the efforts of the Animal Rights Militia in England and I understand why the fur farmers and so-called laboratory scientists are repaid with violence ... it's the only language they understand."

"I understand why the fur farmers and so-called laboratory scientists are repaid with violence ... it's the only language they understand."
'Morrissey' on TruetoYou.com

Morrissey also criticised television chefs Jamie Oliver and Clarissa Dickson Wright as enemies of the animal rights movement.

The website attributes the following comments to Morrissey: "You reach a point where you cannot reason with people" who carry out animal experiments. "They (the ARM) are usually very intelligent people who are forced to act because the law is shameful or amoral."

"With people in the world such as Jamie Oliver and Clarissa Dickson Wright there isn't much hope for animals."

Morrissey's alleged comments appear as part of a Q&A on the fanzine website published on 4 January. 

The singer's long been a supporter of animal rights but has never before supported violent tactics.

Responding to the story, published in the Sunday Times, Opposition Home Affairs spokesman, David Davis said: "Any incitement to violence is obviously wrong in a civilised society and should be investigated by the police."

A spokesman for HLS said: "People can have whatever opinions they want, but to condone and encourage acts of violence is entirely wrong and should not be allowed in a democracy."

There's been no comment from Morrissey's camp as yet.

Meanwhile, the dates for Morrissey's UK tour have been released.

The singer and his band will undertake a massive trek around the UK this spring following the release of new album Ringleader Of The Tormentors on 3 April.

The huge tour includes four nights in Manchester, plus three London dates - although the tour has not been confirmed as yet. 

It all kicks off at the Salford Lowry on 18 April, then calls at Llandudno NW Theatre (19), Leeds Town Hall (20), Aberdeen Music Hall (22), Stirling Albert Halls (23), Dundee Caird Hall (25), Greenock Town Hall (26), Glasgow Academy (27), Whitehaven Civic (29), Gateshead Sage (30), Sheffield City Hall (3 May), Grimsby Auditorium (4), Manchester Apollo (6), Manchester Opera House (7), Manchester Bridgewater (8), Halifax Victoria Hall (10),  Blackburn King Georges (11), Liverpool Philharmonic (12), London Palladium (14),  Cardiff St Davids (15),  Reading Hexagon (17),  Portsmouth Guildhall (19), Birmingham Symphony Hall (20),  London Palladium (21), Truro Hall For Cornwall (23), Cheltenham Town Hall (24), Oxford New Theatre (25), Kings Lynn Corn Exchange (27) and London Palladium (28).

Tickets go on sale at 0900 on 20 January.

Julie Cullen