Jeremy Corbyn hails the ‘heroism’ of communist dictator Fidel Castro despite ex-Cuban leader’s horrific human rights abuses
The Labour leader was joined by ally Ken Livingstone who labelled Castro 'a beacon of light'
JEREMY Corbyn has paid tribute to the "heroism" of Fidel Castro hours after the communist dictator died.
The Labour leader said Castro was "a massive figure in the history of the whole planet".
He added: "I think history will show that Castro was such a key figure, it seems he has been with us forever."
Corbyn is a long-time supporter of the Cuba Solidarity Campaign.
The comments are likely to raise eyebrows given Castro's notorious human rights abuses.
Activists accused the former communist revolutionary of throwing his opponents into squalid work camps.
And those were the lucky ones - an estimated 4,000 were put to death by firing squad during his rule.
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Amnesty International said: "Cuba has always used the excuse of the U.S. embargo and restrictions to crack down on dissidents."
Among those persecuted were priests, political opponents and homosexuals.
When pressed on that point, Corbyn added: "I have constantly raised the issues of human rights abuses everywhere in the world and if LGBT people are wrongly and badly treated and people are denied the freedom of speech, then that is wrong."
"Fidel Castro's death marks the passing of a huge figure of modern history, national independence and 20th century socialism."
He went on to hail Castro's role in ending Apartheid despite "all his flaws".
That fact was earlier acknowledged by former Labour Cabinet minister Peter Hain, who tweeted: "Indefensible human rights abuses but Castro created society equality, free health & education, international solidarity despite USA siege."
Corbyn's close ally and ex-Mayor of London Ken Livingstone waded into the fray this morning, labelling Castro a "beacon of light".
Red Ken added: "Initially he wasn't very good on lesbian and gay rights, but the key things that mattered was that people had a good education, good healthcare and wealth was evenly distributed.
"He was not living as a billionaire laundering money off into a Panamanian bank account or anything like that, he was good for the people."
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