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NEWLY INSTALLED LABOUR LEADER JEREMY CORBYN TODAY REFUSED TO SING THE NATIONAL ANTHEM AT A MEMORIAL SERVICE TO REMEMBER THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN.
The Battle of Britain was famously lionised by Winston Churchill as Britain’s finest hour – but Corbyn, a committed pacifist and republican, stood silent as the rest of St Paul’s Cathedral sang God Save the Queen.
The service was commemorating the 75th anniversary of the aerial conflict – which served the first hammer blow against Hitler’s Third Reich and made the Fuhrer re-think his plans to invade.
In his first official appearance as the new Labour leader, Mr Corbyn chose to wear a mismatched jacket and trousers with a red tie but with his top button undone, adding to his overall dishevelled look.
His lack of singing immediately prompted a backlash from Twitter users, with one saying if he cannot sing the National Anthem then he is not fit to lead the nation.
Before the service, Mr Corbyn, who is chairman of the Stop the War Coalition, released a statement to mark the 75th anniversary.
He said: “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.
“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.”
The service also marked the first time Prime Minister David Cameron and Mr Corbyn have met following his victory, with Mr Cameron walking up to the Labour leader to shake his hand before the service started.
Mr Corbyn has previously called for the abolishment of the monarchy, however since winning the Labour leadership election he has accepted an invitation to become a member of the Queen’s privy council.