World-renowned English theoretical physicist, cosmologist, and author Stephen Hawking has endorsed Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn ahead of Thursday’s general election.
Hawking, often described as the world's smartest scientist, made the endorsement on Monday after meeting with Labour MP Daniel Zeichner.
“I’m voting Labour because another five years of Conservative government would be a disaster for the NHS (National Health Service), the police and other public services," he said.
Professor Hawking said Corbyn’s “heart is in the right place and many of his policies are sound, but he has allowed himself to be portrayed as a left wing extremist.”
The physicist has backed the center-left Labour party for most of his life and supported Zeichner, his local Labour candidate, at the 2015 election.
“I was delighted to meet Professor Hawking again and receive his support for my re-election and a Labour government," Zeichner said.
The endorsement comes as Corbyn has cut down the gap between his party and May’s Conservatives to only one point, raising the stakes in the June 8 general election.
The poll commissioned by The Mail on Sunday put Labour behind the ruling Conservatives 39 to 40, hinting at a 6-point drop in support for May’s party from the same poll two weeks ago.
According to a poll released on Monday, Labour is continuing to narrow the gap on the Conservatives. It also shows that Conservative Prime Minister Theresa May might not actually win many more seats.
YouGov's latest poll has the Conservative lead at four points over Labour.
The gap between the two major parties has continued to narrow in various polls in recent weeks, but different polling companies are forecasting very different results.