Morrissey attacks 'Nazi' spirit of British Olympics

By Georgie Keate

After a weekend of Team GB victories, a lone voice emerged today to lambast the Olympics for "blustering jingoism" and "foul patriotism" reminiscent of Nazi Germany.

Morrissey released a statement on a fanzine attacking the "media-brand Britain" which is pervaded by "the spirit of 1939 Germany".

The open letter comes just one week after the singer complained on stage in Manchester that The Smiths should have been included in Danny Boyle's opening ceremony soundtrack.

"As London is suddenly promoted as a super-wealth brand, the England outside London shivers beneath cutbacks, tight circumstances and economic disasters," he wrote.

"Meanwhile the British media present 24-hour coverage of the 'dazzling royals', laughing as they lavishly spend, as if such coverage is certain to make British society feel fully whole.

"In 2012, the British public is evidently assumed to be undersized pigmies, scarcely able to formulate thought."

Morrisey's loathing for royalty was also extended to media celebrities: "The 2013 grotesque inevitability of Lord and Lady Beckham (with Sir Jamie Horrible close at heel) is, believe me, a fate worse than life. WAKE UP WAKE UP."

Political news to your inbox

Fill in your details to receive Politics.co.uk's brand of informed, in-depth and independent coverage of Westminster to your inbox

Hot topics

Britain's great energy debate

How the power gets to Britain's homes in the next century remains a matter of deep controversy

As the next general election begins to loom over the horizon, the debate over Britain's future energy policy mix is starting to hot up - and nothing seems guaranteed.

The Heathrow third runway debate

Heathrow's third runway is just one of many options

There won't be a final decision on Britain's long-term aviation strategy until after the 2015 general election - but an aggressive national debate is already underway.

Opinion Former Events

MRSA Action UK Annual Memorial Event

Families will pay tribute and remember those lost to MRSA and healthcare associated infections at Westminster Abbey on Thursday 13th June 2013

BSIA: Information Destruction Exhibition & Conference 2013

Following the great success of the BSIA's Information Destruction Conference and Exhibition in May 2012, we are pleased to annouce that the event is returning again in June 2013. This one-day conference and exhibition is aimed at key decision makers in organisations that carry out the secure destruction of confidential material.