Second world war veterans outnumbered former prime ministers for what could be the last time at the national service of remembrance at the Cenotaph in central London.

The number of surviving service personnel from that conflict attending the service has dwindled from 20 last year to about a dozen, the oldest of whom was Jeffrey Brereton, who served in the RAF. He volunteered for the air force in 1940, at the age of 19, and served as a mechanic on Hurricane aircraft during the Battle of Britain.

The number of former prime ministers has swollen to a record nine, all of whom attended as Andy Burnham took part in the ceremony for the first time. They included John Major, 83, the oldest living former prime minister; Keir Starmer, the most recent ex-premier, and Liz Truss, the shortest-serving .

The prime minister, Andy Burnham, laying a wreath during the Remembrance Sunday service.…