Opposition leaders are expected to be allowed to lay wreaths individually at the cenotaph next month as Downing Street seeks to avoid embarrassing the Queen in a row over Remembrance Sunday.
The prime minister’s spokesman indicated that a rethink was under way after Whitehall officials decided to downgrade the role played by opposition leaders by requiring them to lay wreaths together.
Officials in the ceremonials unit at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) wrote to the four main opposition parties last week to inform them they would no longer lay wreaths separately at the ceremony at the Cenotaph on 8 November.
It was proposed that Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour leader; Angus Robertson, the SNP leader at Westminster; Tim Farron, the Liberal Democrat leader and Nigel Dodds, the DUP leader, would instead lay their wreaths at the same time.
The decision, which was passed to the offices of the party leaders in a brief email last week, was prompted by the need to allow veterans to take part in the march-past at an earlier time. But the unilateral move, made without any consultation, is understood to have caused particular consternation in the SNP, the third largest party in Westminster, who regarded it as a snub.
The prime minister’s spokesman suggested that a rethink was under way. “My understanding is that there are discussions between the royal household and DCMS looking at changes to the ceremony and the format of this year’s service. There are discussions ongoing.”
Buckingham Palace said the change, which was reported in the Times, was to shorten the length of time veterans wait before joining the march-past. Whitehall sources also suggested that members of European royal families, who would not normally attend the Cenotaph ceremony, would be attending this year to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of the second world war. Their presence could cause a delay in the march-past.
Downing Street appears to have been nervous that the proposed change might give the appearance that Whitehall was handing the prime minister an enhanced role. Under the proposed change David Cameron would have been the only political leader to enjoy the same status as the Queen and other senior members of the royal family in laying a wreath by himself. Tony Blair faced intense criticism in 2002 over plans to downgrade the role of opposition leaders at the laying-in-state of the Queen Mother.
Alex Salmond, Scotland’s former first minister, said it would be wrong to change the format of the ceremony at the Cenotaph. He told the Times: “The Remembrance Day service has been supported on an all-party basis since just after the first world war. I would advise the government and everyone else connected that it is not in anyone’s interest to tamper with it. It is the ceremony with the utmost solemnity and dignity. People thinking about this should also remember it is about service personnel and the families of the fallen, and keep that uppermost in mind.”
A spokesperson for Corbyn said: “Jeremy believes the most important thing on Remembrance Sunday is remembering those servicemen and women who have given their lives for Britain and he will pay his full respects, in line with the arrangements.”
The email from the head of ceremonials at the DCMS said: “At this year’s national act of remembrance at the Cenotaph there will be a change to the usual wreath-laying pattern. There is a general approach this year to try to speed up the event so after the prime minister lays his wreath, the four party leaders will lay their wreaths collectively. In order for this to happen smoothly on the day, it is important that they attend a rehearsal session – together if possible.”
In a statement, Buckingham Palace said: “The format for this year’s service of remembrance at the Cenotaph on 8 November has been reviewed. Consideration was given to whether the service format might allow the march-past of veterans to start earlier. A number of veterans wait some time for the parade to move off, and then have a lengthy march to Horse Guards Parade. This year, in order to allow the parade to get under way earlier, some members of the royal family and political figures will lay their wreaths simultaneously. These changes will be put in place by the DCMS following discussion with the royal household.”
