Jeremy Corbyn has been mocked for his claim that Fidel Castro 'for all his flaws' was a champion of social justice in a flood of hilarious internet memes.

The Labour leader appeared to gloss over allegations of human rights abuses levelled at Castro, leaving opportunist comedians to compare the former Cuban leader to James Bond villains and Osama bin Laden.

Meanwhile, Mr Junker said the revolutionary had been a 'hero to many', leading to both men being accused of praising a brutal communist dictator with a 'disdain' for democracy.

Critics of Fidel Castro have reacted with fury after both Jeremy Corbyn (left) and EU president Jean-Claude Juncker (right) praised the dead Cuban leader's 'heroism'

For all his flaws, Darth Vader did bring the first Death Star in on time and under budget. — Kevin Schofield (@PolhomeEditor) November 26, 2016

@jeremycorbyn #ForAllHisFlaws HenryVIII gave more women royal positions than any other monarch — deborah ferguson (@dmf500) November 26, 2016

Twitter user Rosbif AzAK said: 'For all his flaws, Mussolini certainly got the trains running on time...'

Another mockingly praised Bin Laden for his proficiency in caving and living out of a backpack while Corbyn's comments were used to compare Castro with Bond villain Ernst Stavro Blofeld for the efficiency of his monorail and volcano.

Mr Corbyn said: 'I think history will show that Castro was such a key figure, it seems he has been with us forever.'

Deborah Ferguson pointed out in a direct tweet to the Labour leader: 'Henry VIII gave more women royal positions than any other monarch.'

The death of Mr Castro aged 90 was announced by his brother Raul Castro and followed years of speculation about his ill health.

In the years before becoming leader of the opposition, Mr Corbyn visited the Latin America state several times and attacked US policy towards it.

Speaking during a visit to Oxford he said: 'Fidel Castro was a massive figure in the history of the whole planet, ever since the revolution in 1959.

'There are stories of his heroism while living in Mexico in exile and then the boat to Cuba, the march to Havana and the revolution in 1959.'

Julie Lenarz tweeted: 'Jeremy Corbyn displaying again the Regressive Left's moral blind spot for brutal dictators by praising Castro's "heroism"'.

Labour London Assembly member Tom Copley said: 'Ashamed of this statement from the leader of my party.

'"For all his flaws" ie internment camps, ban on TUs [trade unions] etc etc.'

Critics of Castro's regime, including Labour London Assembly member Tom Copley, took to Twitter to criticise Mr Corbyn's comments. Tory MEP Daniel Hannan also mocked Jean-Claude Juncker

Others mocked the Labour leader with memes featuring Voldemort and Ernst Stavro Blofeld.

In a statement released today, Mr Junker wrote: 'With the death of Fidel Castro, the world has lost a man who was a hero for many.

'He changed the course of his country and his influence reached far beyond.

'Fidel Castro remains one of the revolutionary figures of the 20th century. His legacy will be judged by history.'

His comments were mocked by Tory MEP Daniel Hannan, who said: 'What could a Eurocrat possibly see in an autocratic regiment that disdains ordinary voters?'

Mr Corbyn also praised Castro for improving health and education services, and for supporting Angola against the apartheid regime in South Africa.

The death of Mr Castro - pictured here circa 1977 - was announced by his brother Raul Castro and followed years of speculation about his ill health

He also lauded Cuban progress in advancing LGBT rights, opposing the death penalty and mending relations with the US.

His comments were also criticised by several senior Labour figures, including former home secretary Jacqui Smith.

She mocked Mr Corbyn's comment that Castro had 'seen off a lot of US presidents', saying that he had done this because US presidents are 'democratically elected'.

Labour MP Ian Austin said: 'It's true Fidel Castro outlasted 10 US presidents, but unlike them he didn't have to stand for election.

'And he could imprison his opponents.'

Mike Gapes, a former chairman of the Commons Foreign Affairs Select Committee, highlighted a Human Rights Watch report that illustrated 'much worse than just some 'problems and excesses' in Cuba'.

Mr Corbyn acknowledged 'there were problems and there are problems of excesses by all regimes' but 'we have to look at the thing in its totality'.