WE now have a 66-year-old leader of the Labour Party. This should be an encouragement to the older generation and to all others as it is generally perceived that with age comes wisdom.

At the Battle of Britain service Mr Corbyn appeared not to sing the National Anthem, as of course, is his right (“Falconer threat to quit shadow cabinet … two days into the job”, The Herald, September 16).

However, perhaps he should have looked beyond his own personal prejudices.

It’s most likely the young RAF pilots flying off to defend this country would have gained courage and inspiration singing the National Anthem.

Taking part in the National Anthem at that service would have shown respect for those who gave everything so that we can have so much, and might have been considered wise.

Tim Purdon,

18 Howard Park Drive,

Kilmarnock.

JEREMY Corbyn is a man of principles, there is no doubt. However, I strongly believe his position now as leader of Her Majesty’s Opposition is going to have to see him slowly but surely lessen his strong stance on issues a little – he should have joined in the singing of the National Anthem.

For me, his shirt and tie not being done up, was – given the significance of the occasion – a tad disrespectful too. He can be as casual as he likes for 90 per cent of the time, but there are occasions when we all need to show a certain degree of reverence.

Judi Martin,

Alma, Maryculter, Aberdeenshire.

IT has taken new Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn just three days in post to have his own Michael Foot moment and give the London right-wing press the chance to excoriate him. Mr Foot was never forgiven for wearing an inappropriate “donkey jacket” to the annual remembrance Service at the Cenotaph. Now Mr Corbyn has declined to sing the national anthem at the Battle of Britain Commemoration event, and is accused of insulting both the Queen and the gallant body of airmen who defeated the might of the Luftwaffe in the aerial battles of the Autumn of 1941 .

But Mr Corbyn is both an atheist and a republican, and he is not a hypocrite. He says that he simply stood in respectful silence, and it would surely have been hypocritical to sing beseeching a God he did not believe in to save a monarch he thinks should not be there. Of course, most politicians say and do things they do not really believe in, so perhaps Mr Corbyn deserves praise, not criticism, for being honest.

In any case, God Save the Queen is not really a “national” anthem at all, it is merely a paean of praise for an individual. In the only verse usually sung, there is no mention at all of the nation, except perhaps for the word “us” in the second line. Even Rule Britannia would be a more logical anthem, although “ruling the waves” and “extending thy boundaries further still” are hardly appropriate today. I envy other countries such as France, Wales and Ireland for their stirring national anthems, while for Flower of Scotland, words fail me. That is one I happily refuse to sing.

Iain A D Mann,

7 Kelvin Court,

Glasgow.