Corbyn praises Hawking ... who called on him to quit

JEREMY Corbyn was ridiculed last night after hailing Professor Stephen Hawking for attacking the Tories – apparently forgetting the scientist had previously called for him to step down as leader of the Labour Party. The world- renowned academic, pictured, gave a speech last week claiming the Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt is moving the NHS towards a US-style insurance-based system.

During a visit to North Wales, Mr Corbyn said: ‘If Stephen Hawking is saying that our NHS is under threat and in danger and in crisis then I think we need to listen very, very carefully.’

Mr Corbyn then tweeted: ‘When one of the cleverest people on earth criticises you, how can you defend yourself @Jeremy_Hunt?’ But it emerged Prof Hawking, a lifelong Labour supporter, had called on him to resign in March ‘for the sake of the party’.

Tory MP James Cleverly tweeted Corbyn’s praise next to Prof Hawking’s criticism with the caption: ‘Seriously guys, you make this too easy.’