First Minister Humza Yousaf lays wreath in Edinburgh to commemorate Remembrance Sunday

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The First Minister of Scotland has laid a wreath at the Stone of Remembrance today to honour the country’s war dead on what he believes to be ‘one of the most sacred days of the year’.

Humza Yousaf was among dignitaries who participated in the Remembrance Sunday service at the City Chambers in Edinburgh this morning.

Mr Yousaf was joined by a Ukrainian family who arrived in Scotland more than a year ago, fleeing the war in their home country. 

Holyrood Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone, defence minister and former Scottish Tory leader Baroness Goldie, and Edinburgh Lord Provost Robert Aldridge also participated in the commemorations.

Today’s solemn ceremony comes after the First Minister called on Home Secretary  Suella Braverman to resign after police were injured by far-right thugs during a pro-Palestinian protest in London yesterday. 

Mr Yousaf has also asked Scottish Labour’s two MPs to back his party’s push for a ceasefire in Gaza. 

First Minister Humza Yousaf lays a wreath at the Stone of Remembrance on the Royal Mile to honour the country’s war dead on what he believes to be ‘one of the most sacred days of the year’

Humza Yousaf was among dignitaries who participated in the Remembrance Sunday service at the City Chambers in Edinburgh this morning.Mr Yousaf is pictured alongside Lord Provost Robert Aldridge, Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament Alison Johnstone and Baroness Annabel Goldie

Pictured are the High Constables followed by the Lord Provost Robert Aldridge and First Minister Humza Yousaf during the Remembrance Sunday service in Edinburgh today

Hundreds turned out on a cold morning in the Scottish capital today to pay their respects, observing a two-minute silence and a parade by military personnel. 

Speaking to journalists before the commemorations, the First Minister said: ‘This, to me, is one of the most sacred days of the year.

‘It’s an opportunity for all of us, all communities, to come together, to reflect, to remember, and to honour all of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice in order so that we can enjoy the freedoms that we cherish every single day.

‘I am proud and honoured to be able to play a part on behalf of the Scottish Government.’

A military parade from Edinburgh Castle began the memorial, with current and former personnel from different branches walking in formation down the Royal Mile to the City Chambers.

Ukrainian Lesya and her children Marichka, 16, and Sviatoslav, nine – who was draped in a Ukrainian flag – laid a wreath on behalf of children who have lost a parent since the Russian invasion last year.

The trio arrived in the Scottish capital after the war broke out, with their father Koli staying behind to fight. He was killed two days before the family were due to be reunited in their home country.

Hundreds turned out on a cold morning in the Scottish capital today to pay their respects, observing a two-minute silence and a parade by military personnel. Pictured are members of the Royal Navy alongside the Stone of Remembrance on the Royal Mile during the Remembrance Sunday event in Edinburgh today

Veterans are pictured during the Remembrance Sunday event at the Stone of Remembrance on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh today

First Minister of Scotland, Humza Yousaf, attends Scotland’s Remembrance Sunday Event at Edinburgh City Chambers today

The Royal Air Force Central Scotland Pipes and Drums play during Scotland’s Remembrance Sunday Event at Edinburgh City Chambers today

A member of the Ukrainian community stands with the wreath laying party at the Stone of Remembrance outside the Edinburgh City Chambers today

Hannah Beaton-Hawryluk, chairwoman of the Association of Ukrainians in GB branch in Edinburgh, said: ‘We have to remember. War is all over the world, all of the time.

‘Our forefathers fought for our freedoms – we cannot forget that. If we fail to remember the mistakes of the past, we will never, ever learn.

‘Lesya’s family are one of thousands that have experienced terminal heartbreak in the last 20 months.

‘The loss of her beloved husband, and father to her children, Koli, brutally outlines why to fail to learn from historic mistakes creates nothing other than an unstable world full of horror, destruction and immense sadness.

‘I know how proud Lesya is of Marichka and Sviastoslav, who today laid a wreath on behalf of all children of Ukraine who have lost a parent to this war.’

Legion Scotland chief executive Claire Armstrong stressed the importance of remembering those who served in the armed forces.

‘Many people have made the ultimate sacrifice in order to sustain our current way of life,’ she said.

‘Many more have made unthinkable sacrifices to maintain our freedoms. To them, and for them, we must say ‘thank you’, and we must remember them.’

First Minister of Scotland, Humza Yousaf, lays a wreath during Scotland’s Remembrance Sunday Event at Edinburgh City Chambers today

The Massed Pipes and Drums perform and march during the Remembrance Sunday event at the Stone of Remembrance on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh today

Military personnel attend a wreath laying at the Stone of Remembrance outside the Edinburgh City Chambers today

First Minister of Scotland, Humza Yousaf, attends Scotland’s Remembrance Sunday Event at Edinburgh City Chambers today

A veteran lays a wreath during the Remembrance Sunday event at the Stone of Remembrance on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh today

Military personnel attend a wreath laying at the Stone of Remembrance outside the Edinburgh City Chambers today

Ahead of today’s solemn service, Mr Yousaf called for Mrs Braverman to resign.

The SNP leader tweeted yesterday: ‘The far right has been emboldened by the Home Secretary. She has spent her week fanning the flames of division. They are now attacking the police on Armistice Day.

‘The Home Secretary’s position is untenable. She must resign.’

He has called on Scottish Labour’s two MPs to back his party’s push for a ceasefire in Gaza. An SNP amendment to the King’s Speech – which calls for an end to hostilities – is expected to come to a vote in the House of Commons this week, with the party urging other MPs to support it.

In a letter to Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, Mr Yousaf asked him to confirm his MPs will vote for the motion.

Mr Sarwar has broken with the UK Labour leadership on the issue, despite his initial reticence to confirm he supports calling for a ceasefire.

Sir Keir Starmer has come under increasing pressure to back the calls, both from inside and outside Labour.

The SNP vote – expected on Wednesday – could present an issue for Sir Keir if his MPs back calls for a ceasefire.

In his letter, Mr Yousaf wrote: ‘As you will be aware, I have been calling for an immediate ceasefire for a number of weeks now.

‘I welcome the stance you have taken as leader of your party in backing those calls for a ceasefire, in stark contrast with the position taken by Sir Keir Starmer.

‘Given that Scottish Labour has two MPs, I am urging you to confirm that they will vote in accordance with the policy you have set out as their leader – which is widely supported among the general public in Scotland and across the UK, as well as by the United Nations and its aid agencies – rather than the inadequate position being taken by Sir Keir.

Tens of thousands of people turned up on the streets of London yesterday to protest the Israel-Hamas conflict

At least 300,000 protesters marched Park Lane near Hyde Park to the US embassy in Vauxhall as part of the demonstration calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. Police made 126 arrests at the rally and nine officers were left injured 

Police officers detain a man in the street close to the National March For Palestine in central London yesterday

Protesters hold flares during a pro-Palestinian protest in central London yesterday

Police clash with far-right counter-protesters in Parliament Square yesterday 

A large crowd gathered near Parliament Square yesterday. Police said the group threw projectiles and insulted officers

Mr Yousaf has called for the resignation of Home Secretary Suella Braverman, pictured during the National Service of Remembrance at The Cenotaph on Whitehall, London today

‘If both Scottish Labour MPs choose to defy you as leader of Scottish Labour by not backing a ceasefire, they will not only be out of step with the Scottish public, but on the wrong side of history.

‘Given the mounting death of innocent children, women and men, nothing less than an immediate ceasefire can meet the humanitarian needs of the moment.

‘I trust that you are in a position to offer this reassurance regarding how Scottish Labour’s two MPs will vote.’

Speaking to the Daily Record at the end of last month, Mr Sarwar said comments made by Sir Keir – which have since been rowed back – that Israel had the right to cut off food and water from Gaza had been ‘hurtful’.

He added there would be ‘repair work to do’ with Muslim communities ahead of the next general election, but said the Labour leader had been ‘pained’ by the comments.

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