Rishi Sunak pressured to apologise for leaving D-Day commemorations early

Rishi Sunak has been forced into a grovelling apology after he left the 80th anniversary D-Day commemorations early to do a TV interview.

The Prime Minister was hit by a furious backlash after he ducked out of the sombre commemorations in a desperate bid to revive his flagging General Election campaign. Labour accused him of a “dereliction of duty”, while furious veterans branded it a “great disappointment” that he skipped a major event in Normandy on Thursday afternoon.

As the political storm grew, Mr Sunak backtracked and issued an apology. He said: “On reflection, it was a mistake not to stay in France longer – and I apologise.”

Mr Sunak attended a Franco-British event in the morning but left Foreign Secretary David Cameron to represent him at a major event at Omaha beach attended by world leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and US President Joe Biden. Labour leader Keir Starmer attended the event.

ITV‘s Paul Brand confirmed on News at Ten last night that the PM returned from Normandy to do the interview. He said ITV was interviewing all the party leaders and had been working to secure a date with Mr Sunak for some time.

“Today was the slot they offered us,” he said. “We don’t know why.”

In a statement posted on X, Mr Sunak said: “The 80th anniversary of D-Day has been a profound moment to honour the brave men and women who put their lives on the line to protect our values, our freedom and our democracy.

“This anniversary should be about those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. The last thing I want is for the commemorations to be overshadowed by politics.

“I care deeply about veterans and have been honoured to represent the UK at a number of events in Portsmouth and France over the past two days and to meet those who fought so bravely.

“After the conclusion of the British event in Normandy, I returned back to the UK. On reflection, it was a mistake not to stay in France longer – and I apologise.”

But Labour’s Jonathan Ashworth said the PM has shown his true colours. He said: “Yesterday’s D-Day commemorations were about remembering the bravery of all those who serve our country.

“In choosing to prioritise his own vanity TV appearances over our veterans, Rishi Sunak has shown what is most important to him. It is yet more desperation, yet more chaos, and yet more dreadful judgement from this out of touch Prime Minister.”

Lib Dem leader Ed Davey tweeted: “One of the greatest privileges of the office of Prime Minister is to be there to honour those who served, yet Rishi Sunak abandoned them on the beaches of Normandy. It is a total dereliction of duty and shows why this Conservative government just has to go.”