Stephen Flynn criticised for not singing national anthem at Remembrance service | Politics | News

Stephen Flynn has been accused of falling “shamefully short of the standards expected” after not singing the national anthem during the Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph.

The SNP‘s Westminster leader remained silent as other party leaders and former prime ministers sang God Save the King.

Scottish Conservative deputy leader Rachael Hamilton said: “While Stephen Flynn may be entitled to his republican views, given his senior role at Westminster he has a duty to show respect on a day like this.

“Lives from all over the UK have been lost during conflicts and the service he attended today was a poignant moment to remember them.

“His apparent refusal to once again refuse to sing the national anthem means he fell shamefully short of the standards expected.”

Mr Flynn, who did not sing the anthem at last year’s service, was also criticised by users on social media platform X.

But in a post he said he was “very proud to honour those who gave their tomorrow for our today”.

He added: “The democratic rights and freedoms that those who came before us fought and died for, remain the most precious thing we all collectively own.”

The King laid the first wreath at the Cenotaph in recognition of the fallen from conflicts dating back to the First World War.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, new Tory leader Kemi Badenoch and other party leaders went on to lay floral tributes.

Standing close to the Cenotaph were an unprecedented eight former prime ministers: Sir John Major, Sir Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, Lord Cameron, Baroness May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage and Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer were among the politicians watching the solemn service from a balcony at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Only the heads of parties with six or more seats in Parliament, plus the leaders of the largest party from each of the devolved nations, lay a wreath at the Cenotaph during the service.

The SNP was contacted for comment.