Foul-mouthed Manning 'fronts' anti-white stuff drive

The use of Manning, who is well-known for his racist humour, is designed to drive home its message that people do not need to consume dairy products.

The poster ads direct people to Peta's website MilkSucks.co.uk. Peta hopes to place the billboard near the Bernard Manning Embassy Club in Harpurhey. The US version of the ad, which features a prominent former member of the Ku Klux Klan, has already been launched.

Peta argues that most of the world's population -- including most of those of African, Hispanic or Asian descent -- become lactose intolerant after infancy as a natural part of the aging process.

It points to a recent British study carried out by Dr Stephanie Matthews and Professor Anthony Campbell, and presented at a national conference on food allergies organised by the Royal Society of Medicine, undetected lactose intolerance as the culprit for many ailments, including arthritis, bowel problems and chronic fatigue.

According to Peta, the consumption of dairy products has also been linked to heart disease, strokes, diabetes, obesity, cancer and even osteoporosis, which it points out are the diseases milk is purported to prevent.

Manning, 73, is known to be an avid milk-drinker who has had a stroke and suffers from angina, which suggests that dairy products could be part of his health problems.

Sean Gifford, director of European campaigns at Peta, said: "Dairy product sales pitches are a whitewash, because milk is linked to serious health problems and milk production supports the abuse of cows and cast-off calves. Many people are lactose intolerant, but all of us should be intolerant of the misery and mucus in every glass of milk."

On the use of the racist comedian, Gifford said that Peta opted for Manning precisely because he has suffered a stroke and angina.

Peta also takes issue with the dairy industry's treatment of cows, which it says is abrasive and unfair. The group contends that cows are genetically manipulated to produce milk way beyond their natural capacity, which it claims leaves them "used up" after only a few years.

In typical Manning style, the comedian was unfazed at his image being adopted by the animal rights charity and he dismissed the poster as a good laugh. "If they want to promote me, then more power to their elbow. I love milk. I've drunk it all my life and I'll keep drinking it."

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