Commies come out for Corbyn!

THE Communist Party threw its weight behind Jeremy Corbyn yesterday – pledging not to put up election candidates in June.

The Stalinist party said a Labour victory would be an ‘essential first step’ toward the dream of a ‘Left-led’ government.

Robert Griffiths, the general secretary, said: ‘In every general election since the formation of the Communist Party in 1920, we have stood our own candidates.

‘On this occasion we will not contest any seats. We call for a Labour vote in every constituency across Britain, despite the reactionary views of numerous Labour Party candidates.

‘The higher the Labour vote and the number of Labour MPs elected, the more secure will be the position of Jeremy Corbyn and his Left allies in the parliamentary Labour Party.’

He claimed a ‘Right-wing proEU, pro-Nato faction’ wanted to return Labour to ‘the neo-liberal and pro-war policies of the past’.

Tory MPs said the endorsement showed how far Mr Cor- byn had taken his party to the Left. Amanda Milling, who represents Cannock Chase, said: ‘Jeremy Corbyn has been endorsed today by a party who want to close down businesses, leave the protection of Nato and hike up taxes to a level never seen before in this country.’

The Labour leader has started a row in his party by revealing his manifesto could support scrapping Trident nuclear missiles – a key demand of the Communists.

The current Communist Party of Britain emerged in 1988 as a splinter group from the earlier Communist Party of Great Britain, which was established in 1920. It has fewer than 800 members.

In the 2015 election, Mr Griffiths came last with 186 votes in Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney.