Morrissey has added his voice to the much reported (although not here in the Daily, to be honest) heated controversy over the new Oxford animal research laboratory. Appearing at the city's New Theatre on Thursday night, the singer used the opportunity to speak out about the £20m biomedical research laboratory site currently being constructed in Oxford's South Parks Road. Calling Oxford "the shame of England" for allowing the site to be built there, he told fans: "If you agree with vivisection, go and be vivisected upon yourself."
It's not the first time, of course, that Morrissey has spoken out on this issue, so it should hardly be surprising. He did, after all, write the lyrics to a song called 'Meat Is Murder'. Earlier this year he told fanzine True To You that he supported the actions of the 'Animal Rights Militia', and said he understood why activists felt the need to use force, saying that the reason "fur-farmers and so-called laboratory scientists are repaid with violence... is because they deal in violence themselves and it's the only language they understand". He added that such activists are "usually very intelligent people who are forced to act because the law is shameful or amoral".
Incidentally, Tory leader David Cameron made a Smiths track one of his eight top picks during his previously reported appearance on Desert Island Discs this week. He chose 'This Charming Man', and called Morrissey's appearance on Top of the Pops "an iconic moment for people of my age and generation". I bet Morrissey's really pleased about that.