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Professor Stephen Hawking has officially backed Labour in the general election, his local party announced today.

The world-famous physicist and Brief History of Time author, 75, will swing behind the party on Thursday because he says the Tories would be a "disaster for the NHS".

His backing comes despite his widely-publicised disowning of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn in March this year.

At the time, he said: "I regard Corbyn as a disaster.

"His heart is in the right place and many of his policies are sound but he has allowed himself to be portrayed as a left-wing extremist. I think he should step down for the sake of the party."

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Today he said in a statement issued on his behalf by Labour: “I’m voting Labour because another five years of Conservative government would be a disaster for the NHS, the police and other public services.”

(Image: Daniel Zeichner)

Prof Hawking made the decision public after meeting Labour candidate Daniel Zeichner, who is defending a majority of just 599.

Cambridge is one of the most marginal seats in the country and Mr Zeichner won it from the Lib Dems in 2015. Former MP Julian Huppert wants to claim the seat back.

Mr Zeichner said: “I was delighted to meet Professor Hawking again and receive his support for my re-election and a Labour government.”