Tory MP defends Jeremy Corbyn for staying silent during national anthem at Battle of Britain commemoration service

Labour said Mr Corbyn was standing in "respectful silence"

Jeremy Corbyn attends the Battle of Britain 75th anniversary service at St Paul’s Cathedral on Tuesday (PA)

A Conservative MP has defended Jeremy Corbyn amid criticism that he remained silent during the national anthem at an RAF service marking the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain.

The newly elected Labour leader was among senior politicians, including Prime Minister David Cameron, to attend the event honouring the pilots who fought in the air campaign.

Photos of the event showed Mr Corbyn, who is as a republican, standing silently at the event as Mr Cameron and other attendees sang God Save the Queen.

Tory MP Sir Nicholas Soames, Winston Churchill's grandson, was among those to question why Mr Corbyn did not sing, and said his behaviour was “very rude and very disrespectful”.

However, amid the derision that Mr Corbyn faced, James Gray, a Conservative MP and a member of the Defence Select Committee, defended the Labour leader.

“The fact he was there properly dressed, wearing a tie, good on him. Well done him.

“He is a pacifist and not a royalist but he has gone along and stood in the front row," he said.

In a statement released by the Labour Party before the event, Mr Corbyn pair tribute to those who fought in the Battle of Britain.

“My mum served as an air raid warden and my dad in the Home Guard,“ he 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.

“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.”

Addressing Mr Corbyn’s decision, a spokesman for the Mr Corbyn said he “stood in respectful silence during the anthem.”

He added: “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.

Additional reporting by PA