Richard Burgon is a classic example of a union-backed carpet bagger. Endorsed by Unite, the GMB, the CWU, ASLEF and UCATT, Burgon will be the candidate for anywhere that will take him, already trying and failing in Rotherham and Barnsley Central. This week, with Unite sponsoring him all the way, literally providing the free beer and sandwiches, he will host a Q&A session alongside Leeds East MP George Mudie, who he now hopes to succeed.

According to the website of the Communist Party of Britain, Burgon is a regular attendee of communist events across the North. He was the guest speaker at the annual Yorkshire Communists’ Red October meeting, which apparently consisted of “celebrations of the Russian Revolution of 1917 by declaring ‘Red October’ throughout the region”. Back in 2011, Burgon was a tutor at the self-described “Communist University of the North”, where among other things students paid homage to military dictator Fidel Castro. If he ever manages to win a selection, Burgon might just become the looniest loony left in parliament…