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Roger Daltrey branded hypocrite after signing letter criticising Brexit deal's impact on touring

Roger Daltrey speaks during the Music Walk Of Fame Founding Stone Unveiling at on November 19, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)
Roger Daltrey (Photo by Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)

Roger Daltrey has put his name to a letter calling for visa-free travel in Europe for musicians, despite being a vocal Brexiteer.

The Who singer is one of a number of artists signing the letter in the wake of the government's Brexit deal not including visa-free travel for musicians.

Sir Elton John, Brian May and Liam Gallagher are among the other stars to sign, however, 76-year-old Daltrey has been singled out for hypocrisy after he publicly backed leaving the European Union.

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The Tommy star also previously questioned what impact Brexit would have on the music industry.

In a 2019 interview with Sky News, he remarked: "What's it got to do with the rock business?"

After the reporter questioned how he would tour in Europe, Daltrey scoffed: "Oh dear. As if we didn't tour in Europe before the f***ing EU. Oh give it up!"

Presenter Jake Humphrey noted that "life comes at you fast" as he shared a clip of the interview to his Twitter page.

Roger Daltrey of British rock band "The Who" performs at the Toyota Center on the second leg of their Moving On! tour on September 25, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by SUZANNE CORDEIRO / AFP via Getty Images)
Roger Daltrey performs with The Who in 2019. (AFP via Getty Images)

The interview also saw Daltrey walk off camera for a moment before returning to state: "If you want to be signed up to be ruled by a f***ing mafia, you do it. Like being governed by Fifa.”

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Humphrey's sentiments appeared to be shared by other Twitter users, including one who commented: "Good to see Roger Daltrey has signed this letter about how the #BrexitShambles will destroy Britain's massive music exports, particularly since he supported, er, the #Brexit that has delivered this wreckage. Peak everything."

"Poor old Roger Daltrey singing ‘won't get fooled again’ for fifty years before getting totally mugged off by Brexit," another added.

"'I never thought they'd eat MY face,' sobs Roger Daltrey, who campaigned to allow Leopards to Eat Peoples' Faces," a third jibed.

The letter to the government states there is a “gaping hole where the promised free movement for musicians should be” and argues the cost of work permits makes ‘many tours unviable, especially for young emerging musicians who are already struggling to keep their heads above water owing to the Covid ban on live music’.”

Watch: Roger Daltrey slams Sir Elton John as ‘arsey’