Jeremy Corbyn has paid tribute to Harry Leslie Smith ahead of a memorial celebration of the veteran campaigner’s life.

The former RAF pilot, WWII veteran and NHS and refugees campaigner died in November aged 95, after a lifetime spent fighting passionately for the poor.

Mr Corbyn said Harry was “a true inspiration to our movement”.

On Tuesday night, friends and supporters will gather at London’s Conway Hall for an evening of speakers and song - entitled “Remembering a Rebel”.

Jeremy Corbyn will speak at the event, alongside the Mirror’s Ros Wynne Jones, columnist Owen Jones, Unite General Secretary Len McCluskey, Labour General Secretary Jennie Formby and author Jack Monroe.

(Image: Daily Mirror)

The Mirror’s Kevin Maguire will compere the evening.

Harry’s son, John, will also give a speech.

The event will be live streamed on the Mirror Politics Facebook page from 6pm.

(Image: Andy Stenning/Daily Mirror)

Mr Corbyn said: “Harry Leslie Smith will be sorely missed by all those who were lucky enough to meet him – and by the many more who didn’t but whose lives he changed with his unflinching dedication to social justice.

“It is telling that even though he died at 95, because of his dedication to social justice he was an inspiration to all ages.

“Harry was not someone who chose to ‘walk by on the other side’.

“He fought racism and cared as much about fighting attacks on refugees as he did about fighting fascism. He stood up against poverty and spoke out against the intolerable greed of the 1%. He believed in peace and justice and hated the senseless waging of war, and he was passionate about the welfare state.

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“He called it the proudest day of his life when he voted for Clement Attlee in 1945 and in doing so brought about the NHS.

“Harry was a true inspiration to our movement. And the best way we can pay respect to his legacy is by bringing to life the better world he never gave up fighting for.”