Jeremy Corbyn ridiculed by flood of memes after claiming ‘for all his flaws’ Fidel Castro was a social justice hero
A FLOOD of hilarious internet memes has mocked Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn for claiming that "for all his flaws" Fidel Castro was a social justice hero.
Using the hashtag #ForAllHisFlaws, opportunist online comedians have compared the 'indefensible' former Cuban leader to Osama Bin Laden, Darth Vadar and James Bond villains after Corbyn appeared to gloss over allegations of Castro's human rights abuses.
Tweeting a picture of evil Lord Voldemort, user Stephen Donnan quipped: "#For AllHisFlaws he proved that dying once isn't enough to stop you from pursuing your dreams of a purist dystopia".
The Sun's Kevin Schofield wrote online: "For all his flaws, Darth Vadar did bring the first Death Star in on time and under budget".
Another mockingly praised terrorist Bin Laden for his caving skills and living out of a backpack.
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Alongside a picture of Joseph Stalin, account Mo'mentum Trumpton tweeted: "He rose from humble beginnings but proved he had what it takes to reach the top of his profession. #forallhisflaws"
Corbyn's comments were also used to compare communist leader Castro with Bond baddie Ernst Stavro Blofeld for building an efficient monorail and impressive volcano hide-out.
Speaking after news of Castros death emerged, Corbyn Said: "Fidel Castro was a massive figure in the history of the whole planet, ever since the revolution in 1959.
"There are stories of his heroism while living in Mexico in exile and then the boat to Cuba, the march to Havanna and the revolution in 1959."
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 supported of the Cuba Solidarity Campaign.
But his comments are likely to turn heads given Castro's controversy.
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.
Former Labour Cabinet minister Peter Hain, acknowledged the abuses and tweeted: "Indefensible human rights abuses but Castro created society equality, free health & education, international solidarity despite USA siege."
But today some of Corbyn's closest political peers joined the Labour leader in the praising the communist leader.
Shadow chancellor John McDonnell told the Murnaghan programme on Sky News that revolutionary Cuba was a "beacon of hope".
He said: "There are many flaws in the Cuban regime and many criticisms that many people made including ourselves but for my generation if you look back on this, the immense achievement of the Cuban revolution, this was a country that was controlled by effectively a kleptocrat where there was extremes of wealth and poverty, no education, no health service and the land controlled by landlords while peasants literally starved.
"The revolution took place and it redistributed wealth and the land, it introduced an education service and a health service which was second to none in the world in some instances."
He added: "It was a beacon of hope for many people but, yes of course there were flaws, and you cannot but criticise those - but again in the face of the blockades and the opposition from the US the achievements of the Cuban revolution have to be admired particularly with regard to education, health and redistribution of wealth."
Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry also defended Corbyn's comments, admitting "it's quite difficult" to get past allegations of brutality made against Fidel Castro.
She said: "I think that Castro was a hugely divisive figure and I think that it's quite difficult to get beyond the human rights abuses.
"But my own experience, I went to Cuba in the early 1990s when there was great economic difficulties in that country and I found a country that was egalitarian with a fantastic health service, I had my baby with me, we had to go off and see the doctor and we were really struck by it."
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