THE COMMUNISTS today declared they won’t stand a candidate for the first time in 97 YEARS – in support of Jeremy Corbyn’s party of “peace”.

The Communist Party of Great Britain urged their followers to back Labour as the “first step” towards establishing a left-led Government.

3 The Communist Party of Great Britain is backing Jeremy Corbyn Credit: PA

It threatens to widen the split in Labour over defence.

Robert Griffiths, its general secretary, blasted the Tories for wanting to renew the Trident nuclear defence system.

And he lavished praise on Jeremy Corbyn’s foreign policy “based on peace and international solidarity”.

3 A flag of Lenin waved at a rally of Russian Communist party members in Moscow's Red Square onSaturday Credit: Getty Images

In a statement he added Theresa May wanted a soft Brexit that would keep Britain in the single market in “all but name”.

He said that Labour meanwhile wanted state bank investment in public an end to NHS privatisation, public ownership of the railways and community ownership of energy.

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Mr Griffiths said: “We call for a Labour vote in every constituency across Britain, despite the reactionary views of numerous Labour Party candidates.

"Communist Party organisations will approach local Labour Party bodies in their area with offers of practical campaigning assistance."

"In every General Election since the formation of the CP in 1920, we have stood our own candidates, not least in 2015 when we fielded nine.

"Now, on this occasion, we will not contest any seats, although this does not signal any withdrawal from the electoral arena in the future.”

3 The CGB lavished praise on Corbyn’s foreign policy 'based on peace and international solidarity' Credit: PA

In response Amanda Milling MP, member of the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Select Committee said: “Let this sink in: 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.

“At this election every vote is going to count.

“Unless people get out there and vote for Theresa May and their local Conservative candidate, this man will be our Prime Minister in a little over 6 weeks – propped up by the Lib Dems and SNP in a coalition of chaos.”