The love affair of some on the left with Cuba illustrates their moral depravity

That Gordon Brown can buy off potential Labour rebels by proposing a softer line on Cuba illustrates just how much of a special place the Castro despotism still has in the heart of some Labour MPs. These people are just like those on the reactionary right who used to cheerlead for apartheid South Africa. They are blinded to the hideous nature of the regime they’re supporting by the fact that’s its enemy is their enemy.

It is supremely ironic that these MPs have to be bought off to support 42 days detention. In their favourite hereditary-run despotism, the authorities lock people up indefinitely whenever they feel like it.

Some say we shouldn’t worry about this, it is only a few old Labour dinosaurs who think like this. But as Harriet Harman revealed recently, she—the elected deputy leader of the Labour Party—thinks that Castro is a hero of the left.