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Corbyn stands silent during national anthem at Battle of Britain service Corbyn stands silent for national anthem at Battle of Britain service
(34 minutes later)
Jeremy Corbyn has taken part in his first ceremonial engagement as Labour leader, appearing to remain silent as the national anthem was sung at an RAF service marking the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain. Jeremy Corbyn appeared to remain 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.
During the St Paul’s Cathedral event, the Labour leader was seen standing silently, a few places away from David Cameron, as those around him sang along. A staunch republican, Corbyn has in the past called for the monarchy to be abolished. 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.
But since winning the Labour leadership election in a landslide at the weekend he has accepted an invitation to become a member of the Queen’s privy council. Before the service, Corbyn, chairman of the Stop the War Coalition, released a statement to mark the 75th anniversary. In it, he paid a 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 issued a statement on Tuesday morning praising the heroism of Royal Air Force pilots and ground staff who took part in the battle for control of the skies over Britain, preventing a German invasion in 1940. 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.”
“My mum served as an air raid warden and my dad in the Home Guard,” Corbyn said. “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 an enormous debt of gratitude. 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.
“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.” David Cameron arrived sometime later, and sat down at the end of a row, a few seats away from the Labour leader.
More details soon ... In the past, Corbyn has called for the monarchy to be abolished. Since winning the Labour leadership election in a landslide 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.