Salmond's menu too offal, says Morrissey

Morrissey, who came to prominence during the 1980s as the singer of hit group The Smiths, and who is known as a committed vegetarian, has lashed out at the First Minister's culinary choices during a performance in Inverness.

According to Matthew Crist, who attended the concert, the comments came just before the singer performed Meat Is Murder, a song about the cruel practices used in slaughter houses.

Crist said: "He pretty much slated Alex Salmond for offering his dining guests foie gras, and he said on stage he wished that one of the guests had shoved the foie gras down Alex Salmond's throat until his liver exploded, pretty much the same way foie gras is made."

Crist reported that Morrissey's comments were received with enthusiasm.

"It certainly got a cheer from the audience, which being from England surprised me as I thought Alex Salmond was a popular person," he said. "But maybe it was because it was Morrisey saying it."

Morrissey's comments related to controversy surrounding the serving of foie gras at official dinners in 2009 even though the dish had been condemned as cruel by his own government.

The singer's strong views on vegetarianism have already caused a stir in the past week, after he requested a ban on the preparation or consumption of meat in the venues on the Scottish leg of his tour.

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: "These comments are out of date. Foie gras was inadvertently served at two Scottish Government functions in 2009, by an outside catering company who were subsequently told not to include it on future menus.

"No foie gras has been served since, and it will not be part of the menu for any Scottish Government events, which in any case will now be serving just Scottish produce."