What is so uncomfortable about saying what he did. It's a merely a common sense observation. He by no means condemned asylum seekers. At like people to point a which point he did so, in order to inspire discomfort he surely must have somewhere, but I just don't see it! The well of opportunity is not a bottomless well. What's so 'uncomfortable' about implying that. It's true all over the world!

This is so ridiculous. The writer asked him that question only to trick him. Nobody else is ever asked questions like that. Whatever he might say they would have slagged him anyway. What a bore. He moved to LA 7 years ago to avoid this kind of persecution, i.e. people criticizing his "choice of language". Bloody hell. Don't those people have anything else to do in their life other than analyzing Morrissey's choice of language?

What's wrong with those comments? It's the ignorance of all these posh buggers that annoy me, they don't see how over populated it is in the working class areas of the North of England. What Morrissey said is correct, but it's not a "racial issue", it's an "over-population" issue - just ask people in China about that. It's gonna come to the point when birth control is a law brought into England, 50 million people is quite a lot for such a small country, we just don't have room for thousands upon thousands of asylum seekers.

He's only saying what a huge amount of people in Britain are saying and thinking. The government know it, this is why Blair is trying to do something about it, albeit too late. Pick up any paper and you'll realise that this isn't a contravesial viewpoint but a common one. I hope Morrissey doesn't take it to heart just because a few NME reading, politically correct students don't like what he's saying.

Prime example of how the being politically correct has gotten way out of hand...one cannot simply state an obvious fact without someone under the banner of *PC* over-reacting and making accusations under headings such as "ists" or "isms" (to quote 1 of Morrissey's new songs)...it is such an easy cheap-shot, which is usually the last resort of those who are calculating or just merely ignorant.

it is a question about how many people you allow to flood into your country.

Did anyone ever question the fact that the Royal Albert Hall has a maximum capacity of 5,222 (Exclusive Let)?

If you'd allow a crowd of 10,000 in the RAH, that would be uncomfortable for everyone.

Just like the mexicans are flooding our country

(-1 here i come!)

But i dont care this country was founded on immigration i say if they wanna come over let em

It just does not seem possible to raise any issue in connection with immigration from whatever source without being labelled -ist or -ism(or jism).And that goes for Morrissey or plebians.

could you imagine how dispicable we all would seem if every little sound bite of ours was recorded and perverted by the media. touchy, touchy- foff!

The problem is that if you have an opinion that is well reasoned and thoughtful, some twat will tell you it makes them uncomfortable if it even so slightly hints at slowing down the rate of immigration. Personally it'd have been more unsettling if he'd said "I think they should let the whole country get so over populated that it's not worth fucking living in." Well said whoever made the comments about rich people. It's always some middle class twat who lives in a big house, nowhere near any non-English speaking ethnics that tells us we should welcome them with open arms. Well I live in a place full of Asians and it's turned into a fucking shithole! Champagne socialists are a fucking nightmare

The first casualty of Political Correctness is the truth!

  Mickey Vegas

We need to close the gates! Auslander raus!

It wasn't a nasty, sensationalist piece at all. It was correct in questioning his language but it did not state that Moz is a racist.
Plus people here need education. Britain's population is not rising dangerously; in fact I don't think it's rising at all. Low birth rates, emigration...these factors make immigration necessary, as well as the obvious contributions so many immigrants make to society.

"Pick up any paper and you'll realise that this isn't a contravesial viewpoint but a common one"
Yes the hate directed by tabloids in England to asylum seekers is frighteningly common; how refreshing to see a paper (albeit a music one) rush to defend asylum seekers for once. Well, let's not forget the Indie and Guardian, I suppose.
The poster above me is a racist (unlike Morrissey - whose comments did not really piss me off) but I hope the rest of the comments are just made by sycophants and are not idiotic knee-jerk reactions to asylum seekers (caused by reading too much of Richard Littlejohn's columns in the Sun?).
By the way, middle class people pay more taxes - if asylum seekers really are exploiting our NHS and taking our benefits, they suffer too.

The awful truth is that Britain desperately needs all the workforce it can get if it is ever going to pay for all its pensions in years to come. If Morrissey understood the slightest thing about all this, he'd know that all UK political parties are desperately trying to come up with ways to SELL immigration to the average knuckle-headed British racist. It's a shame a child of Irish immigrants who migrated from Manchester to London and then to LA doesn't have the intelligence to recognise the parallels in his own or his family's life. The NME set him up and he is too dim to dodge it.

Mmm, those comments are in no way racist, but I still feel uncomfortable about them. The use of the term 'flood' implies some out of control 'tide' that is impossible to stop. This raises the danger of inflaming the issue, which in turn can lead to prejudice, even though this was not the intention. I agree that lots of people hold those views, but it really is the case that they are born out of ignorance. I would not for one moment suggest that Morrissey is an ignorant person, however I don't think that he is an expert on immigration either. If he was he woudl know that his comments are simply not born out in reality. Morrissey's comments were not racist, but some of teh comments posted in reply are dangerously close.

I find it extremely disturbing to read many of the views expressed above and extremely disturbing to live in a society in which they are expressed so openly and so often. It seems that society is changing, as well, perhaps, as Morrissey. I don't blame Morrissey for the idiots who listen to his music, though I think he should perhaps do a better job of attempting to influence them away from hatred and intolerance. We have too many bad people in charge of political parties/the tabloid press, running around stirring up tension and for somebody who used to represent the sensitive 'other' in society Morrissey should be very careful that his words are not misinterpreted so that they can be used to support the bigots. We need more tolerance, but where can we find it if not from the likes of Mr Morrissey?

Morrissey could have displayed more sympathy toward asylum seekers or 'bogus asylum seeking money scroungers' as they are more commonly refered to in UK tabloids. If you were to look through tabloid tinted glasses, they are probably the most ostracised class / group in society, and we all fell in love with Morrissey because he was such a hero for the marginalised figure - the james dean for the geek, loser, sexually frustrated / confused, whilst at the same time appearing glamourous and mischievous.

He found common ground with the Mexicans because they too are the marginalised, poor citizens in America. So why not here? it is not like Morrissey to suck up to the tabloids otherwise he will be trying to seduce Penny lancaster soon.

Knowing Morrissey (which I don't at all, and is obviously a thing that Morrissey takes great pride in, the enigmatic figure and such forth) he is probably trying to cause a media controversy - ie bring out the racism issue again in order to declare 'I'm not a racist', but in very much his own terms. Maybe it's just me, but i'm sure that furore in the past still affects him, in that he was crucified without trial. Maybe. It's a twisted theory I suppose, but surely Morrissey knows of the connotations of the word 'flood' in relation to UK immigration policy - it was famously used in the Thatcher government, and was constantly refered to by the 'no to EU / immigration' manifesto of, then tory leader, William Hague.

I don't mind when Morrissey talks of racism, it doesn't make you a racist and such issues have to be brought in to the spotlight - in order to see what is happening in society, and how this kind of fear and hatred spreads. (by the way, as England is indeed part of the EU, immigration is nigh upon impossible - has no one ever heard of the term Fortress Europe?). When he, morrissey, talks about National pride, i tend to switch off - it's just not a subject that interest me (as opposed to racism, which is indeed a hot social potato - i am aware that there is obviously a connection between the two, but i feel that Morrissey refers to them as two different issues ie i have great pride in my country, but i do not discrimate against different races). I have no great pride in where i come from (maybe as a british born 'foreigner' i tend to have a nomad mindset, with no particular affiliation with a particular country - my god! a nihilist! ('even the Nazis had a belief system' - Walter Sobchak, The Big Lebowski, 1998. Rather, i would say that i share an admiration for the finer British things that Morrissey enjoys - Oscar Wilde, Keats, George Bernand Shaw, etc the great literature figures - after all, we all love his lyrics.

Right, finally, as i am rambling a bit here, I have to say that some of the posts on here are shocking. Yes, the asylum seekers that we do have here do get located in the poorest, social serviced deprived areas of the uk. It romantic of me to say so, but you would think that the poor working class would welcome them, embracing there own class, the same class that is spat upon daily - as the 60s east end would say, 'we do good with our own'. instead more fractions open up and the tabloid media frenzy feeds these fractions into canyon size gaps. It is worth noting that Burnley, a town populated by 1500 - 2000 people (its either this figure or 15,000 - 20,000, probably this latter) has an asylum seeker population of approx 50. Yes that's correct, 50 asylum seekers in the town that hold (i believe) 4 BNP seats. Flood, I would say more of a trickle.

PPS Morrissey didnt actually say asylum seekers were flooding the country, the interviewer ask if he think there be more 'flashpoints' (ie kind of suggesting that ppl are revolting against the 'tide'). What Morrissey stated was about control and how that control is exercised (he obviously uses the US as an example. And he does end the question by stating 'it's hard if they are being persucuted'. I still think he could have showed more sympathy and had a long diatribe against richard littlejohn. Maybe next week when he gets featured in NME Part 26 - 'Milking the Morrissey Money Cow'. lol. and goodnight.

It's not like asylum seekers are rabid lowlifes trying to hitch-hike our social system and steal our money. It's not like anyone is getting "flooded". People need to understand that you don't usually move to another country and put up with the whole climate and culture change for the fun of it or for some financial interest. A lot of people are fleeing from wars and opression. It's not like we can't afford giving some people a helping hand and a chance for a better future.

I agree with the journalist, Morrissey seems to be ignorant on the subject. No big fuss though, he's one of many people I guess.

...when I read the interview, I was disappointed at how much Morrissey seemed to be sitting on the fence about the issue, as though he was trying to please the boirgois left. Though I suppose I'd have done the same given his history.

I read the NME interview and Morrissey's comments merely suggested it was a complicated, difficult issue. Which it is. He didn't say anything racist at all, in fact he expressed empathy for asylum seekers. No reason for the PC police to try and bully everyone into being afraid to state opinions. God I hate that. It's one reason I'm glad I don't live in England, because it seems like you get demonized there if you dare to think for yourself.

With that said, I happen to think immigration should be loosened in America, and I'm not all worked up about illegal aliens the way some people are. Hell, a lot of Mexicans love Morrissey's music, so the more people of good taste flooding in the better, I say. = ) Furthermore, several states in America used to be bilingual ages ago, so people just don't know their history when they don't know that Spanish has always been one of the languages of America.

In my judgment, open immigration is one of the main reasons America is such a dynamic country. Immigration encourages the transmission of ideas and is very good for the economy. As someone who's generally a libertarian, I'm for openness and freedom.

  But yeah, it's a very complicated and controversial issue for most countries, and people should be allowed to speak freely without being beaten down. Why must everyone be forced to conform to what the "liberal intelligentsia" tries to dictate. Surely there is a point where immigration can be too liberal for a country to handle. While I happen to disagree with Morrissey's immigration worries, I sympathize with the way he's unfairly attacked for voicing them. The way to work things out in a democracy is to discuss issues, not sweep them under the rug.

...couldn't he have used the word 'infest' instead?

I also do not think Morrissey said anything wrong. There are many ignorant people, both in the public and in the press, who are more than eager to jump on anything Morrissey says and try to construe it as bigoted or nasty. It’s ludicrous! These people have nothing better to do than to criticize him because they are prejudiced against Morrissey for personal reasons. I think there truly is a point when something has to stop. I’m American so I will speak about what I see in America and no matter what particular problems this country has there are many reasons why people flee or escape from other parts of the world to the US. While asylum seekers by definition need protection there honestly are only so many millions of people one country can “absorb.” The problems and corruption of each country needs to be eliminated so that people no longer need to flee their countries. Eventually, there is going to have to be a limit and that can not be denied or ignored. Now that may mean the number of immigrants other than asylum seekers needs to be curtailed but something needs to be done. Also this limit needs to be fair in regards to each country (i.e. a set # per country with “western” countries and “non-western” countries being equally represented.)

One would feel by the barrage of views aired here on this issue that Morrissey CONDEMNED the influx of Asylum seekers. At which point did he do that? I don't see it. At some stage, wether you like it or not, immigration should be controlled. I sickens me to see people from other nations lying begging on the street, when they came here with hope for something better. I don't think certain people are aware of how patronising it is to be so vocal in favour of mass immigration. It's obvious that the structures are still not in place to give these people the opportunites they deserve. Until such structures are in place some element of contol will be needed. It's all very nice to be welcoming with open arms. We'd all love to do that and I'm sure a time will come when we can if we act now to set up the structures required.

FREE MY LAND

I stand and watch my country today
It's so easy to see that it's being taken away
All the immigrants and all the left wing lies
Why does no one ever ask the reason why

(Chorus)
We were the country that had everything
We were the country, Rule Britannia we would sing
We were the country, and we could never lose,
Once a nation, and now we're run by Jews
We want our country back now!

It's time our people stood together side by side
It's time we stood and fought against the media's lies
The capitalists and the communists, well they co-exist
If you love your country, you'll be on their list

The sands of time are running out for this land
It's time the people stood and raised their hands
It's time we drove out the traitors that we can see
Now is the time this nation should be free, free my land

What has this site become that propogates race hatred? Many of the views expressed above are hidden even from the ranks of the BNP as they scavange for respectability. It seems that once a person or group becomes popular, those they seek to satirise become their biggest fans. This happened to Blur around the time of 'Girls & Boys' (the Club 18-30 crowd), Harry Enfield with 'Loadsamoney' (Thatcherites) and it seems to have happened with Morrissey (taking the optimistic view that he was satirising fascists in 'National Front Disco'). The idiots hear the words 'National Front' and believe that here is a song for them. So, this website becomes a rallying call for misfits and losers who are threatened by 'the other'. I dearly wish Morrissey would openly denounce this element of his following. Like those who hope that Blair will one day speak ill of Bush, I think we are in for a long wait.

Morrissey himself is an asylum seeker...in America. It's a question of how many more people like him (American-obsessed Europeaners wealthy enough to move here, yet who trash-talk America) we are going to allow into our country.

Is this now the BNP website??

Maybe the NME was right all along -- at least about Morrissey's fans.

If Morrissey had said, "Dachau wasn't so bad," would the sheep on this board be bleating, "Well, those Jews did have it coming"?

If Morrissey says it, who are we to disagree?

This is BORING!

Many of the people who question the issue of Asylum seekers are not racist. That is not to say that they are correct in their views. It's impossible to know. We live in a time when smug 'liberal' Political Correctness disrupts any progress in dealing with a senstive issue. We can't get past labelling someone because of their 'uncomfortable' views, and likewise, those who loath Liberal types as 'self-rightoeus Guardian readers' need to come off their I'm so far o the left I'm at the edge of the world routine. I firmly beleive that the majority of the people who have contributed to this thread are not racist and do not disprove of sylum seekers or immigration or for that matter that they are smug self righteous blind one track mind fools. With that in mind, a fresh approach can be made. Stop pissing on each others views. You are more aligned than you would think. Unless you are actually are a racist or a trendy leftie for that matter!

If you care so much about the plight of immigrants why don't you give shelter to those who are living on the streets of London at the moment. Why don't you offer them employment for a decent wage instead of the way they are expoited in the building trade living in cramped conditions.
  You see this is the kind of shit that is going on in this country at the moment. You can turn a blind eye if you like but remember as you do that the immigrants you think should be welcomed into this country are getting ripped off and treated poorly. This will continue under the latest system.

Matthew from Malta says -
Can't we just admit that mozzer is a BNP voter who can't stand living cheek by jowl next to Pakis... so not quite what one would expect from an artist like him, but hell, who bloody cares right? It's the music, words and quirks with Morrissey. I'd just hate to think that his knee-jerk reactions on asylum provoke instant approval from silent fans who are also scared to pronounce their racial prejudice...

Just like all of the white trash that complain about immigration in the US. None of them are American indian, but they will complain about the foreigners invading. Then you have the South - It was all ok when we were shipping them and breeding foreigners as slaves, but now it's a problem.

It's mostly the conservatives in America complaining about immigration. They want it regulated. These are the same people that dont want to be taxed to pay for it. The same people who don't want industry or the environment regulated because of the evils of "big" government.

They are all for "big" government and regulation when it comes to immigration, a woman's uterus, what you do in your own home, and gay people. Cons are the biggest hypocrites on the face of the planet.

England for the English. France for the French. Germany for the Germans. Austria for the Austrians. Italy for Italians. Spain for Spainards. Netherlands for the Dutch. Etc.

Morrissey speaks the things MOST people think but don't say, because The West is prisoner to Political Correctness Enforcers who don't care if we live or die. Or drown in a sea of brown.
If you think it's racist, check back with me in several years and I know you'll sing a different tune.

Morrissey for President of the World.

It kills me to read everyone saying "let'em come in, I don't give a shit." Who pays for them when they get here? It's great to hear some of you say we can afford it, but I'd bet you barely pay taxes yourself. Who should pay to educate, feed, house, jail, and provide healthcare to our new guests. Very few illegal immigrants can sustain themselves and thier families, and many never do. If some of you dumbasses would read once in awhile, you would learn that most people migrate for a better oportunity, but at the same time, they are largely uneducated with limited skills. Most don't want to assimilate either, just ask the French and the rest of Europe how well the muslims are assimilating, and hear in America, no one wants to assimilate. Assimilation is working quite well in Kosovo, Isreal, Africa (just to name a few). Most illegal immigrants take the best of our countries, and give nothing back. A nation can only sustain so much of this until it loses its identity.
      Why have borders? When they get here, to show we really support them, we should learn their language, and give them our homes too. Now that's compassion!
      We should also print everything in fifty languages to cater to our new freinds who want to "just have fun and try something new" as one idiot put it. Another one of you Hitlerites suggested shooting someone's mom in the face, and another suggested their mom was screwing the immigrants (now that's racist. do you think the immigrants are subhuman's like dog's and only ignorant fools would srcrew them?, all because these people had a different opinion than you. What a bunch of intollerant, uneducated fools!
    I do very well for myself here in America, and I would never leave it all just to "try something different."
    When people migrate LEGALLY with an education, a dream, and a desire to contribute to the system, they are forced to wait several years in order to become "legal." That's a crime.
    Listening to some of you, makes me understand why Europe has become the pacifist toilet bowl of the world. Keep up the good work, it's a slow suicide your bringing on yourself. Almost all of you complainers sit and do nothing, once in awhile you march in a protest and think your changing the world. You can't change the world until you open up your eyes to the world.
      It's not racist to want to protect what you love (your country), I don't want to live in a place that looks like China or most of Africa. People who oppose the flodding of immigrants aren't always racist either, often they want to make sure the system will coninue to support itself. Some of your elitist mentality is sick and condescending. Does it make you feel superior to see immigrants arive in you land and strugle to make their way? It makes me sad. Do you feel good about yourself, knowing that your government is giving them a stipen so they can survive, and never rise up to your level?
      Go look in the mirror, that's intolerance (not compasion) looking back at you! Read a book or something besides your socialist rags once in a while, and don't be affraid to think what you feel.

Here we go again.....

To those saying this website has become "a nasty place", don`t asume that the rancid comments above are remotely representative of most readers. They aren`t. Empty vessles make most noise on this subject.

And to those fascist and racist pondlife who have "adopted" Morrissey as their own stop dragging your knuckles and try -odd as it may feel- THINKING for a minute.

Let's leave aside the fact that someone of his "ambiguous" sexuality is unlikely to have much sympathy for an organisations that want homosexuality banned.

Just consider these facts, Morrissey supported the Labour Party back in the far off days when it was properly left-wing, he supported Amnesty international, an organisation that campaigns for the rights of refugees, he supported Anti-Apartehid (do you need that one explaining?)

His best friend in the skinhead community was Mensi, lead singer of the Angelic Upstarts and a leading figure in Anti Fascist Action.

He has declared himself a fan of black writers and performers including Maya Angelou, Issac Hayes, Dionne Warwick, Echobelly, McAlmont, Goldie.

His pronouncements on the subject include "The people who say I`m racist just can`t stand the sight of my physical frame", "If I`m racist the Pope is female", "If the National Front were to hate anyone it would be me", "[being accused of being racist was hurtful because]I don`t have any racist feelings whatsoever".

He's just written a song about how terrible it is that America is unlikely to have a black President.

HE IS NOT ON YOUR SIDE YOU RANCID LITTLE FUCKWITS!!

Got that? Good. Now put your Skrewdrive earphones back on, shove your heads back up your arses, and jump down a very very very dark hole.

I have not commented upon this so far but there seems to be an "unusual" amount of very right-wing people posting anonymously on this subject. Yes, a lot are responding from the other side, just as caustically, but does anyone else suspect a certain level of shall we say infiltration?

Morrissey fans may well be a bunch of Guardian readers but I've never seen so many send-them-all-back types before.

Yes, and I know that I myself don't have a log-in.

The journalist admits an ignorance over the asylum issue himself yet still feels equiped enough to ask Morrissey about it.

The bottom line is that Western culture is dying a slow death, and it's happening due to suicide. Britan and America are allowing a massive influx of 3rd-world immigrants into our countries, while native birthrates are dropping perilously.

It is NOT racist, NOR is it hateful, to simply stand up and say "hey, I'd like to actually see the 5 Anglo-Saxon countries in the entire world out of over 200 (US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand) REMAIN Anglo. What is so wrong with that?

If anything, all of those leftist liberal PC police who scream "DIVERSITY" at everyone should SUPPORT keeping those 5 nations Anglo... after all, once those 5 are overrun with hispanics and asians, there will be no anglo nations left... how is THAT keeping things diverse, hmmm??

Mostly... I don't get how supporting your own culture is hateful. Just because I support keeping England Anglo... that therefore means I *hate* hispanics? I must therefore HATE asians? Please! I don't hate anybody, I'd just like to see a particular culture preserved.

Think of it this way. Any other race or culture that sets up groups to promote their own self-interests, such as the NAACP, are heralded and praised as "promoting diversity"... but can you imagine the outcry if whites set up a similar group for themselves? The media would scream RACISM! Why is this? Why is it OK for every other minority and cultural group to gather exclusively with those similar to themselves and promote their own self-interests, but whites cannot do the same thing? Unbelievable. And yet only 5 (major) nations in the world are Anglo-Saxon ruled. Out of over 200!! WTF!

Moz is absolutely right. Shut immigration down, both legal and illegal. The invading 3rd world immigrants don't give a damn about maintaining and preserving American and British heritage -- they'd rather set up minuature Mexicos and Indias and berate the very whites that are letting them live in their country!

Does this make this viewpoint hateful? Only if you're a liberal ignoramus. I believe people can be fully capable of being open and respectful of all races and nations, whilst still preferring that their own country preserve its heritage and stock.

One additional point --- in the VERY SAME BREATH, i would not want India overrun with whites either. If i go to France, I want to see FRENCH PEOPLE, not Muslims! If I travel to Syria, I want to see MUSLIMS, not Germans! So the same thing follows with American and Britain -- I'd like to see these countries remain white majority, purely because that's what they are. British and American heritage are unique in this world, and I hate historical revisionists who would paint every George Washington and Thomas Jefferson as "evil men" for owning slaves.

My statement to every non-white culture out there? I appreciate you, I respect you, I want your own countries preserved, and I welcome you in my OWN country too! But... let's keep your combined population percentage in the U.S. and Britain to 20% or less. I appreciate your existence and representation as a minority in my country, and I welcome your views and diverse cultural aspects. But that doesn't mean I want your numbers increasing so fast and out of control that you start making me a minority in my own country.

Hateful? No. It's just common sense, people. Liberal PC police, just grow up!

¿What do you believe you are?
Many of european people had been accepted in other countries, they found new oportunities to survive and grow up, and now, your stupid consciense dont want to allow to the people live in your bastard civilization, please, dont make me laugh.