emembrance services are allowed to go ahead despite the national lockdown, Downing Street has confirmed.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said there would still be a national service at the cenotaph in central London on Sunday and councils are allowed to arrange their own local services.
However, he emphasised that any Remembrance or Armistice Day services must be outdoors and socially distanced.
He made the comments ahead of England’s month-long lockdown which starts on Thursday.
It comes after there were reports that Health Secretary Matt Hancock had told Tory MPs that only “short, focused” wreath-laying events would be allowed.
However, the PM’s spokesman told a briefing of Westminster journalists: “We are certainly not cancelling Remembrance Sunday events but we must be mindful of the risk such events pose especially to veterans who are often elderly.
“It’s important that the country can continue to come together to remember the sacrifices of those who have died in the service of their country.
“We will ensure that Remembrance Sunday is appropriately commemorated while protecting public health.”
He added that the guidance would be updated “shortly”. The Remembrance Sunday service is expected to be televised as usual.
