MPs mark Armistice Day in mini-service

The Speaker said it was more important than ever to commemorate the heroes of the First World War, especially as so many national events on Remembrance Sunday were either scaled back or cancelled because of COVID-19 restrictions.

“Pausing for two minutes to remember the sacrifice made by so many brave men and women in faraway places 102 years’ ago is something we should not give up to this awful virus,” he said.

“It is why I wanted this House and its Members to have the opportunity to commemorate this moment in the Commons Chamber.”

Speaker’s Chaplain Tricia Hillas, who normally leads prayers behind closed doors ahead of the start of proceedings in the House of Commons, began the seven-minute service with a reading from Psalm 46.1.

Sir Lindsay read from the 1914 poem "For the Fallen" by Laurence Binyon, before Big Ben tolls at 11am to mark the beginning of the two-minutes' silence. The service ended with a prayer and a blessing.

The service, beginning at 10.58am was live streamed on:

• Parliament TV
• @HouseofCommons Twitter

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