Jeremy Corbyn will not attend Fidel Castro's funeral after tribute backlash

Source close to Labour leader told IBTimes UK there was 'no particular' reason why he was not going.

Jeremy Corbyn will not attend the funeral of former Cuban leader Fidel Castro, a source close to the Labour leader confirmed to IBTimes UK on Monday (28 November).

The opposition party will instead be represented at the 4 December service by Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry.

The source said there was "no particular" reason as to why Corbyn would not be travelling to Cuba, but explained that it was "not unusual" for someone other than the leader to attend a funeral of a foreign leader.

Corbyn faced a backlash on and after 26 November when he failed to criticise the communist dictator's poor human rights record, which included the imprisonment of political opponents.

"Castro's death marks the passing of a huge figure of modern history, national independence and 20th century socialism," Corbyn said in statement.

"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."

UK Prime Minister Theresa May and Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson will also not attend the event. Instead Foreign Office minister for the Americas Sir Alan Duncan will represent the government.

Gerry Adams, the president of Sinn Féin, also plans to attend the funeral, while Irish President Michael Higgins will not be flying to Cuba.