Morrissey claims Ukip rigged leadership vote against anti-Islam candidate
Controversial singer's claim was met by silence from listeners
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Your support makes all the difference.Morrissey is courting controversy again after claiming that the Ukip leadership election was "rigged" to ensure an anti-Islam activist lost the vote.
The singer made his comments during a live broadcast on BBC 6 Music, where he was promoting his forthcoming new album Low in High School.
"I was very surprised the other day - it was very interesting to me - to see Anne Marie Waters become the head of Ukip. Oh no, sorry she didn't - the voting was rigged. Sorry, I forgot."
His comments were met by a noticeable silence from the studio audience, after which he added: "You didn't get it, did you? You obviously don't read the news."
Waters has previously described Islam as "evil" and is the chair of Sharia Watch UK, a leading anti-Islam organisation. She came second to Henry Bolton last week when Ukip elected its fourth leader within the space of a year.
Many Ulip members and MEPs threatened to leave the party if she was selected leader. She lost by 2,755 votes to Bolton's 3,874.
Morrissey claimed in 2013 that he almost voted for Ukip out of "respect" for then-leader Nigel Farage's views on Europe.
He said the European referendum result was "magnificent" and claimed that it had not been accepted by the BBC or Sky News because they objected to a public that "cannot be hypnotised by BBC or Sky nonsense".
His remarks about Waters drew criticism from fans and 6 Music listeners on social media.
One wrote: "Morrissey disappointed Anne Marie Waters didn't win? The racist c*** can f*** off."
Morrissey's album Low in High School is set for release on 17 November.
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