Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn will NOT attend Fidel Castro’s funeral but will send representatives instead
Foreign Office Minister, Sir Alan Duncan, and Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry will attend instead
NEITHER Theresa May nor Jeremy Corbyn will be attending Fidel Castro's funeral.
Foreign Office Minister, Sir Alan Duncan, and Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry will attend the former Communist leader's funeral instead, which will take place on Sunday.
The Prime Minister's Official Spokeswoman confirmed today that she would not be attending the funeral, and the Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson, is also unlikely to go.
She was asked about her views on the revolutionary leader, and said that he was a "historic, if controversial figure".
The Foreign Office confirmed later that Sir Alan Duncan, the foreign minister, would represent Britain at the memorial service.
Mr Corbyn has been ridiculed for describing Mr Castro as "a massive figure in the history of the whole planet" and praising the Communist leader as a "champion of social justice".
He said: "From building a world class health and education system, to Cuba's record of international solidarity abroad, Castro's achievements were many.
"For all his flaws, Castro's support for Angola played a crucial role in bringing an end to Apartheid in South Africa and he will be remembered both as an internationalist and a champion of social justice."
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Sinn Fein's leader, Gerry Adams, is set to attend the funeral too.
He said: "Fidel Castro was a global leader and a good friend of the Irish people. I am proud and honoured to travel to Cuba to represent Sinn Fein, as we remember Fidel Castro."
There has been mixed reaction to the death of the former Cuban ruler, as lefties lined up to praise his Communist revolution, but critics slammed his dictatorial rule and alleges of human rights abuses.
Nine days of national mourning have been announced after he died at the weekend at the age of 90.
His ashes will be taken across Cuba this week from the capital Havana to the city of Santiago where he will be laid to rest.