Labour leader appears not to join in with God Save the Queen at St Paul’s Cathedral memorial, after releasing statement praising heroism of war effort

Jeremy Corbyn remained silent during the national anthem at the Battle of Britain memorial service at St Paul’s Cathedral, his first ceremonial event since being elected Labour leader.

The pacifist leader of the opposition was pictured on Tuesday standing silently with his hands clasped and holding his order of service as others around him sang God Save the Queen.



Before the service, Corbyn, chairman of the Stop the War Coalition, released a statement to mark the 75th anniversary. In it, he paid tribute to his parents: “My mum served as an air raid warden and my dad in the Home Guard. Like that whole generation, they showed tremendous courage and determination to defeat fascism. The heroism of the Royal Air Force in the Battle of Britain is something to which we all owe a enormous debt of gratitude.”

He continued: “The loss of life – both civilian and military – should be commemorated so that we both honour their lives and do all that we can to ensure future generations are spared the horrors of war.”



Corbyn is thought to have arrived on foot about 15 minutes before the service, which was attended by veterans, their families and senior RAF officers. He took his front row seat briefly before standing to talk to some of the other guests.



David Cameron arrived later, and sat down at the end of a row, a few seats away from the Labour leader.



In the past, Corbyn has called for the monarchy to be abolished. Since winning the Labour leadership election in a landslide victory at the weekend, he has accepted an invitation to become a member of the Queen’s privy council.



One onlooker at the service said they had watched Corbyn for several minutes as the national anthem was being sung and did not see his lips move.

Downing Street said the prime minister attached importance to the national anthem and was “very proud” to sing it.

A spokeswoman said: “The importance that the PM attaches to the national anthem is visible every time he is at one of these commemorative services. He is very proud and willing to join with others singing the national anthem.”

Corbyn, who has been embroiled in speculation over whether he will wear a red poppy or a white one at Remembrance Day commemorations, faced criticism from some quarters.

Conservative MP Andrew Rosindell, who has campaigned to promote patriotism, said it was disappointing that Corbyn had chosen not to sing the anthem, and offered to teach him the words. Corbyn should “understand that the British people are overwhelmingly supportive of our monarchy and our constitution”, he said.

The MP for Romford added Corbyn was free not to do it in private but should on a state occasion. “It is his duty, and the duty of any leader of any party that seeks to be prime minister, to accept that we are the nation that we are,” he said.

Tory MP Sir Nicholas Soames, the grandson of Winston Churchill, said not singing the anthem was “very rude and very disrespectful’’ to the Queen and “the Battle of Britain pilots who gave their all’’.

“It was an extremely disrespectful thing and I think he needs to make his mind up whether he is a grown-up or not,” added Soames.

Nigel Farage, the Ukip leader said: “I was at St Paul’s and noticed Jeremy Corbyn not uttering a word of the national anthem, but then he is a hardcore republican to his fingertips, something that very few Labour voters would support.”

In a statement issued later, the Labour party said: “Jeremy attended today’s event to show respect for those who fought in conflicts for Britain. As he said in the words issued this morning, the heroism of the Royal Air Force in the Battle of Britain is something to which we all owe an enormous debt of gratitude. He stood in respectful silence during the anthem.”

Cameron praised the efforts of Polish pilots for their “vital role” in the second world war, as he met with the country’s president, Andrzej Duda, at No 10 following the service, which both men attended. The two were meeting to discuss Cameron’s case for EU reform, the migration crisis affecting Europe and the future of Nato.

Cameron told Duda that the Battle of Britain “was not just one of the most vital moments in the history of Britain, but in the history of Europe and the world in which Polish pilots played such an absolutely vital role in saving Europe from tyranny, from Nazis and from Hitler”.

Elsewhere, the 75th anniversary was being marked by the biggest gathering of Battle of Britain aircraft since the second world War . About 40 Spitfires, Hurricanes and Bristol Blenheim bombers flew in formation from Goodwood aerodrome in West Sussex before dispersing across wartime airfields over the south of England.

Battle of Britain aircraft take to skies for 75th anniversary Read more

The tribute to the second world war pilots, called “the few” by wartime prime minister Winston Churchill, for their efforts in defeating the Luftwaffe, is likely to be the last major anniversary at which surviving members of the pivotal conflict, who are all well into their 90s, will be fit to take part.

After the service, his first at St Paul’s for an official event since becoming leader, Corbyn said: “I’ve been there before – it’s such a beautiful church. I was thinking of my mum. She was an air raid warden – I’ve got the ARP medal she was given”.

He was joined at the service by Tom Watson, Labour’s deputy leader, and the two later walked towards nearby Paternoster Square, stopping to talk to workers from a high street coffee shop chain who were handing out free goody bags of sandwiches to the veterans attending the service.

Corbyn briefly posed for photographs as Watson took a picture with a smartphone for one of the staff.

Also in attendance at the service were the defence secretary, Michael Fallon, and the Earl of Wessex.

Dozens of Polish people, or those of Polish descent, gathered outside to wave their nation’s flag, and the contribution of Polish fighter pilots was highlighted inside as the venerable Jonathan Chaffey, chaplain-in-chief of the Royal Air Force, described it in his address as “unsurpassed”.



