COMMEMORATING Karl Marx this weekend is more important than ever, Communist Party of Britain general secretary Rob Griffiths has urged.

Marx’s grave in Highgate Cemetery, north London, was recently damaged by suspected far-right vandals.

Mr Griffiths said that the annual event on Sunday is an “opportunity to show fascists that revolutionary ideas will never be destroyed by acts of vandalism.”

“Secondly, in view of China’s enormous advances the main oration from comrade Ma Hui should be of great interest,” he added. The Chinese speaker was invited for the 70th anniversary of the country’s revolution.

The London Socialist Historians Group convenor Keith Flett said: that Marx’s ideas are of “great significance” even 136 years after his death.

Mr Flett added: “We’ll gather on Sunday of course to pay our respects but also to underline that those who seek to write Marx not just out of history but out of the current day will fail.”

The event will take place on Sunday March 17 from 1.30pm by the Swain’s Lane entrance to the cemetery.