LEADING trade unionists in Britain have praised the release of Brazil’s former president Lula and vowed to help his country fight for a new government.

Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was released from prison on Friday after 580 days in jail on what his supporters claim were trumped-up corruption charges.

Brazil Solidarity Initiative vice-chairman and Unite assistant general secretary Tony Burke told the Morning Star today: “Lula is a great man and a great trade unionist.

“His release from prison on Friday was fantastic news. The Brazil Solidarity Initiative, British unions and our global unions can be proud of the part they played in helping get his release.

“Of course Lula should never have been imprisoned in the first place. His incarceration is a political stitch-up.

“Lula must now be exonerated and the global movement and trade unions that helped secure his release will again need to be mobilised to get rid of the right-wing Bolsonaro regime.

“As Lula said just before his imprisonment: ‘The powerful few may kill one, two or three roses, but they can never stop the spring from coming. And our struggle is for the spring.’”

Unite leader Len McCluskey quoted Lula and tweeted on Saturday: “‘They tried to kill an idea.’ Fantastic news this morning of Lula’s release, but the fight to clear his name continues.”

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn also welcomed Lula’s release and called his imprisonment “unjust and wrong.”

He tweeted on Friday night: “I’m delighted Lula is now free and will be able to resume his work as a committed socialist and Workers Party leader.

“Brazil needs the kind of real change Lula has always been committed to.”