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Former Smiths frontman Morrissey is said to be considering London mayoral bid
Could run as the candidate of a small party focused on animal rights
He once famously sang “London is dead.” But former Smiths frontman Morrissey may be about to change his tune, and become an unexpected candidate in London’s mayoral race.
The singer is said to be “very seriously” considering running as the candidate of a small party focused on animal rights and environmental issues.
According to True to You, widely considered his semi-official website, the singer has been approached by the Animal Welfare Party to enter the upcoming race, which will take place in May 2016.
The singer has long been an outspoken vegetarian and defender of animal rights.
In a statement on the website, he said that “there must be a governmental voice against the hellish and archaic social injustice allotted to animals in the United Kingdom.”
“What animal protectionists need to say is very well worth saying and well worth hearing,” he added. “But we cannot just sit around waiting for establishment enlightenment.”
Party leader Vanessa Hudson confirmed they had approached the former Smiths frontman, in a written statement to CNN.
“[The] Animal Welfare Party has asked Morrissey to consider standing as a candidate for us in the upcoming election for Mayor of London,” she wrote.
“We’d like to see the mayoral contest include the views of a candidate who would seek to champion London not only as a world leading city for people but for animal welfare too.”
Should he accept the invitation, Morrissey would certainly spice up the race.
He took aim at the meat and dairy industry in a statement posted on True to You.
“The abattoir is the modern continuation of the Nazi concentration camp, and if you are a part of the milk-drinking population, then you condone systems of torture,” he wrote.
Doubling down on previous comments against British TV chef Jamie Oliver, in his latest statement Morrissey defined Oliver a “serial killer.”
READ: Morrissey scoops ‘Bad Sex’ award for debut novel
“If animal serial killer Jamie Oliver feels so passionate about including ‘kid meat’ (young goat) into the human diet, would he consider putting forth one of his own kids (children) for general consumption?” added the singer.
Indeed Morrissey is perhaps as famous for his controversial statements, as his musical achievements.
He once defined Chinese people as “a subspecies” for their treatment of animals, and compared eating animals to paedophilia.
