Boris Johnson lays a wreath at a memorial in west London 

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Boris Johnson today laid a wreath at a war memorial in west London as he continued to face furious backlash over a ban on Remembrance Sunday services being held inside churches.   

The Government has faced mounting criticism after it emerged new Covid-19 rules banning mass worship would stop veterans from attending Remembrance Sunday services inside churches.

Instead, those in England will be required to stand outside during events tomorrow – raising fears elderly war heroes could be exposed to pneumonia.

The Prime Minister was today seen laying a wreath at the Uxbridge War Memorial as he paid his respects to those who lost their lives fighting for Britain during the two World Wars.

Mr Johnson was joined by Ian Ritchie from the Hillingdon and District Royal British Legion for the low-key ceremony in his constituency.

Actor and politician Laurence Fox today slammed the move to keep veterans outside of churches as ‘ridiculous’, adding they ‘have more than enough nouse to make their own risk assessment and take precautions.’

He said: ‘They are veterans of war, for heavens sake, I think they have more than enough nouse to make their own risk assessment and take precautions. 

‘Stop infantilising those much smarter than you and let them remember in church, if they wish.’

Former Prime Minister Theresa May also criticised the decision on Thursday.

She told the Commons: ‘My concern is that the Government today making it illegal to conduct an act of public worship, for the best of intentions, sets a precedent that could be misused for a Government in the future with the worst of intentions.

‘And it has unintended consequences. The Covid-secure Remembrance service in Worcester Cathedral is now going to be turned into a pre-recorded online service.

‘Surely those men and women who gave down their lives for our freedom deserve better than this?’

Former Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon added: ‘Veterans are perfectly capable of social distancing and wearing face masks for half an hour and I hope the Government will think again. 

‘It seems ridiculous. We trusted veterans to put their lives on the line for the country but we cannot trust them to stand two metres apart in church.’ 

Most religious services are banned under winter lockdown restrictions which began on Thursday, with anyone caught attending facing a £200 fine. 

This put a halt to Remembrance Sunday church services, with an exception made for a restricted guest list at Westminster Abbey on Armistice Day on November 11.

However, outdoor events can still take place at a ‘public war memorial or Cenotaph’ in England provided numbers are kept to a minimum, social distancing is observed and they are kept short. 

A heavily reduced ceremony at the Cenotaph in London will take place on Sunday. 

The Government has also ordered local councils to ‘discourage’ the public from attending Remembrance Sunday events.

‘Members of the public are legally permitted to stop and watch the event as spectators,’ guidance says. 

‘But event organisers should take reasonable steps to discourage the public from attending events, and be mindful of the risk that such events pose, especially to veterans who are often elderly.’

The move to ban people from churches on Remembrance Sunday has been heavily criticised since it emerged last week, with the last survivor of the Battle of Britain saying he ‘feels sad’ about the rule.

Growing uproar from former senior members of the armed forces, and former defence secretary Michael Fallon, has also seen calls for an exemption from the rule so the day can be properly commemorated.

Lord West of Spithead, the former First Sea Lord, told The Telegraph: ‘If you look at the average size of a church there must be a way of letting veterans in with social distancing. It seems very silly to have them standing outside in the freezing cold. 

‘This puts them more at risk. They will die of pneumonia rather than Covid.’ 

John ‘Paddy’ Hemingway, the 101-year-old last survivor of the Battle of Britain, is said to be gutted by the move.

His son Brian Hemingway said the veteran ‘feels sad’ people will not be able to come together on Sunday.

The former Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Carey, as well as the Catholic Church yesterday backed calls for ‘sensible exceptions’ to be made to the rules on mass worship. 

Lord Carey made an late plea for the Government to U-turn on its decision and to allow World War Two veterans to gather inside for memorial services, saying Sunday may be the last day for many people to pay their respects to fallen comrades.   

‘Even at this late hour, the Government should make sensible exceptions to allow veterans, some of whom may not see another Remembrance Sunday, to attend a service in small numbers in a Covid-secure church,’ Carey said to the Telegraph.

‘I’m not in favour of special pleading for church worship during this public health emergency, but surely we can find ways to honour those who have given so much to their country.’  

Justin Welby, the current Archbishop of Canterbury, said he believed the ban on religious services ‘will probably change before long’.

He said that the Government is ‘listening very carefully’ to faith leaders who have written to Boris Johnson asking him to reverse the decision to bar services.

Welby insisted that churches are ‘the safest place you go to’, with people observing social distancing measures and wearing masks. 

‘This is one of the things that holds people together. It gives them a real sense of purpose and changes the world. So, I think that’ll probably change before too long. The Government’s been very good, they’re listening very carefully.’ 

Other religious leaders have also spoken out about the Remembrance Sunday guidelines, noting that places of worship have been made safe for veterans.