SNP’s Flynn slammed for not singing national anthem at Remembrance service

Stephen Flynn appears to not sing national anthem at Remembrance service

Stephen Flynn has come under criticism after he did not sing the national anthem at the Remembrance Sunday service.

The SNP’s Westminster leader was seen standing silently as God Save the King was sung during the moving ceremony commemorating the nation’s war dead at the Cenotaph in London today.

Scottish Conservative deputy leader Meghan Gallagher insisted Mr Flynn, who was among senior politicians attending the service led by the King, should have taken part in the national anthem.

Ms Gallacher said: “Stephen Flynn is entitled to his republican views, but as Westminster leader of the SNP he has a duty to show respect to our head of state and to all nations and anthems.

“By apparently refusing to join in with the national anthem, especially at a service to honour those who gave their lives for this country, he has fallen shamefully short of this.”

READ MORE: King Charles leads Remembrance Sunday at Cenotaph as Anne takes special role

Mr Flynn’s silence during the national anthem was also criticised by a number of people on X, formerly Twitter.

The SNP’s Westminster leader later said it was a “humbling experience” to attend the ceremony

He wrote on X: “A humbling experience to be present at the Cenotaph today for Remembrance Sunday, and to lay a wreath on behalf of the SNP and Plaid Cymru.

“As ever, I was thinking of my late grandad and the sacrifices his generation made during WW2 to protect our freedoms. Lest we forget.”

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Mr Flynn joined other politicians including Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, as well as members of the Royal Family and dignitaries, in laying wreaths at the Whitehall memorial.

A two-minute silence was observed at 11am and almost 10,000 veterans and 800 armed forces personnel from all three services took part in a march-past.

The SNP politician has previously said he would be “quite sympathetic” to ditching the monarchy in an independent Scotland, while SNP leader Humza Yousaf is a self-avowed republican.

An SNP spokesperson said: “Stephen Flynn was honoured to represent the SNP at the Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph, which is about remembering the sacrifice of all those that have defended our freedoms, including members of Mr Flynn’s family.

“It is disappointing that the Scottish Conservative Party is seeking to politicise Remembrance Sunday in this way, on a day when we should be united in remembering the service of others.”

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