Morrissey goes to war with Canada

Morrissey is refusing to take his world tour to Canada in protest against the country’s annual seal hunt.

It has been reported that up to 325,000 young harp seal pups could be killed in the coming weeks, despite international appeals for it to stop.

The singer has issued a statement on his official website saying this is the reason he won’t be visiting the country to promote his forthcoming album ‘Ringleader Of The Tormentors’. Dates have already been played in the US, and he’s due to visit Europe later this spring.

“I fully realise that the absence of any Morrissey concerts in Canada is unlikely to bring the Canadian economy to its knees, but it is our small protest against this horrific slaughter - which is the largest slaughter of marine animal species found anywhere on the planet,” the singer said. “The Canadian Prime Minister says the so-called 'cull' is economically and environmentally justified, but this is untrue.”

Morrissey claims that the motivation behind the “barbaric and cruel” hunt is “making money”, and in doing so will aid the fashion industry.

He continued: “The Canadian Prime Minister also states that the slaughter is necessary because it provides jobs for local communities, but this is an ignorant reason for allowing such barbaric and cruel slaughter of beings that are denied life simply because somebody somewhere might want to wear their skin. Construction of German gas chambers also provided work for someone - this is not a moral or sound reason for allowing suffering.”

The cull has been condemned by other celebrities, including Paul McCartney.