A bright red miniature statue of Karl Marx given to a British city to commemorate his 195th birthday has been relegated to a back garden because a Tory-run council does n't want it on display . The four-foot tall , plastic sculpture of the communist revolutionary , was presented to Gloucester council by dignitaries from his birthplace of Trier , Germany - which is twinned with the city . Trier made 500 of the statues which were placed across the city , and one was donated to Gloucester in order to symbolise Marx 's journey across Europe , because the cities are twinned . Scroll down for video . A bright red miniature statue of Karl Marx given to a British city to commemorate his 195th birthday has been relegated to a back garden - because a Tory-run council does n't want it on display . But the Conservative council said it 'would not be appropriate ' to display the gift anywhere prominent . Charles Yates , a member of GlosLinks , which maintains the link between Gloucester and twinned Trier , has instead given the statue a home in his back garden . He said : 'It needed a home and my wife and I were quite happy to have it here . He is stood in the garden quite happily . 'It is the sort of statue that guests will always make a comment about . It deserves to be put somewhere in the city . It deserves a home somewhere in Gloucester . 'This whole thing started because the German people asked us what we had done with it . 'It is all very well everyone making decisions about the statue but they have n't actually seen it yet . Charles Yates , a member of GlosLinks , which maintains the link between Gloucester and twinned Trier , has instead given the statue a home in his back garden . The four-foot tall , plastic sculpture of the communist revolutionary , was presented to Gloucester council by dignitaries from his birthplace of Trier , Germany - which is twinned with the city . Trier made 500 of the statues and one was donated to Gloucester in order to symbolise Marx 's journey across Europe . ' I am just amazed that nobody has come to see the statue . ' The statue of the revolutionary Trier-born socialist , who wrote The Communist Manifesto , was donated to Gloucester last May . Transported to Britain on the Eurostar , the journey was meant to mimic the way Marx drifted across Europe . Born in Trier in 1818 , Marx moved to Berlin to study law before travelling to Paris , where he became a revolutionary communist . Expelled from France , Marx spent two years in Brussels before moving to London , where he was to spend the remainder of his life . Despite Marx 's significance and political standing , the Conservative leader of the council does not believe it should be placed anywhere important . Leader of Gloucester City Council Paul James said : 'We value our twinning links so I 'm pleased we 've been able to find somewhere to put Trier 's kind gift . ' I do n't think it would be appropriate to put it anywhere more prominent unless , perhaps , to warn people of the dangers of voting for Ed Miliband . ' The comment and political stance of the council has sparked fury with local councillors who says it should not be used as a political weapon , whether you agree with his politics or not . Labour councillor Chris Chatterton said : ' I appreciated it 's election time and silly season but you should n't say that . 'Whether you agree or disagree with Marx and Engels is up to you . Their theories changed the world . To make that kind of comment is misplaced . 'The statue should n't be bandied about as a political part . ' I think you take it on its merits . Just as a point of courtesy when any of us are given a gift you treat it with respect . 'Through time we have been given some very weird gifts and you may not want to put them on display but you treat it with courtesy . 'How many times have we gotten something at Christmas that we do n't want but you do n't just throw it away . You treat it with respect . ' Born in Trier in 1818 , Marx moved to Berlin to study law before travelling to Paris , where he became a revolutionary communist and befriended his life long collaborator , Friedrich Engels . The pair co-authored the pamphlet 'The Communist Manifesto ' which was published in 1848 . It theorised that all human history had been based on class struggles . Expelled from France , Marx spent two years in Brussels before moving to London , where he was to spend the remainder of his life . He lived , for a number of years , in poverty supported by the wealthier Engels , before he produced his most important body of work , 'Das Kapital ' . The first volume of this 'bible of the working class ' was published in his lifetime , while the remaining volumes were edited by Engels after his friend 's death . He died on 14 March 1883 and was buried at Highgate Cemetery in London . Video courtesy of Heiko Zimmerman .
Statue given to Gloucester council by Marx 's birthplace of Trier , Germany . Trier made 500 of the statues which were placed across the city . One donated to Gloucester to symbolise Marx 's journey across Europe . But council said it 'would n't be appropriate ' to display the gift anywhere . Instead the statue has been given a home in a Gloucester back garden .