go through Jennifer McKiernan, BBC News Political Correspondent
French Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has apologized after facing backlash for leaving France’s D-Day commemorations early.
Mr Sunak was accused of dereliction of duty for leaving the 80th anniversary commemorations of D-Day early, in what was widely seen as the biggest gaffe of the general election campaign so far.
As world leaders, including US President Joe Biden, gathered on Thursday to express their condolences, Sunak left Foreign Secretary David Cameron to act on his behalf and returned to the UK.
Speaking to reporters about his decision to leave after attending the UK event, the Prime Minister said: “On reflection it was a mistake and I apologize.”
Sunak said his plans to attend the D-Day events were confirmed “weeks ago” and that he had attended other events with veterans, including one in Portsmouth.
He said: “After attending all the UK events with British veterans, I returned home ahead of the international leaders event later in the day.
“On reflection, this was a mistake and I deeply apologize.”
The Prime Minister also Apologize on X dayHe expressed hope that the “ultimate sacrifice” made by those risking their lives would not be “overshadowed by politics.”
D-Day commemorations include a British event in Ver sur Mer, attended by the prime minister and King Charles, but Mr Sunak left ahead of the international commemoration on Omaha beach.
In contrast, Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer attended the event The party has confirmed that Mr Sunak did not return to record the ITV interview until the very end.
Labour’s Jonathan Ashworth said: “Rishi Sunak’s choice to prioritize his own TV appearances over our veterans shows what is most important to him.”
Sir Keir said he was “shocked” by how difficult it was for veterans to get there but how many struggled to get up from their wheelchairs to pay tribute to the King.
“I think it was very important for me to go out there and pay my respects to them and those who didn’t come back and really say thank you,” he said.
“Rishi Sunak must take responsibility for his actions. For me, there is nowhere to go.”
Foreign Secretary David Cameron, who succeeded Mr Sunak at the international event with world leaders, defended the Prime Minister’s “candor”.
On Sunak’s departure after the UK campaign, Lord Cameron said: “He had a long-term plan to return after that – we’re in the middle of an election campaign so that’s not surprising.
“But then, on reflection, he said he wished he could have stayed for later events, and I think that was an honor to him because he was so candid about it.”
Veterans Minister Johnny Mercer said veterans were “going to feel a lot of pain”, adding that “personally it’s a bit frustrating” but that he would support the Prime Minister.
He said: “I think he was right to apologize – it was a mistake and it shouldn’t have happened.
“Obviously people are going to want to make this a political issue and attack him. I’m not going to join that group of people.
“I think people do make mistakes and this was a mistake. He has accepted that and apologized and I will continue to fight for him.”
He asked people to remember the government’s decisions on veterans’ issues, including on heritage prosecutions in Northern Ireland, claiming Mr Sunak and his wife “have been working on this for many years”.
But Muriel, 90, from Carlisle, whose father was fighting in Italy on D-Day, told BBC Radio 5 Live she was “absolutely disgusted” with Mr Sunak and that his departure left her in tears.
She said: “He’s our prime minister and he represents me. I just think it’s very wrong.
“I sat and watched this movie since 7:30, and I was in tears a lot of the time, I just thought it was so terrible.
“If he wants me to vote for him again, he can just forget about it.”
Jack Hemmings, 102, a Second World War pilot who traveled to Normandy to attend commemorations, told the BBC Mr Sunak’s early departure was “a wrong decision”.
“He chose to hold an election in front of thousands of victims.”
Mr. Hemings. He was a member of the Lib Dem Party and served in No. 353 Squadron, flying Lockheed Hudson aircraft on maritime patrol missions to protect the Bay of Bengal from Japanese invasion.
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Conservative Home founder Tim Montgomery told BBC Newsnight it was “indefensible” to leave the commemoration in order to be interviewed.
“I want to keep my hands in my own hands… if he comes back and gives a political interview during the D-Day commemorations, that’s untenable,” he said.
Former Downing Street communications chief Sir Craig Oliver told BBC Radio 4’s Today program that Mr Sunak “doesn’t understand what a prime minister is” and suggested that D-Day should still be excluded despite the general election being over. .
“This is a very important moment for the country and a very important moment to signal your leadership as Prime Minister,” he said.
“The problem with Rishi Sunak this morning is that he has been accused of not understanding what a chancellor is and not understanding his responsibilities as chancellor.”
Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey called the decision “a dereliction of duty”.
“One of the greatest privileges of the Prime Minister’s Office is to be there to pay tribute to those who have served, but Rishi Sunak abandoned them on the beaches of Normandy.
“This is a complete dereliction of duty and illustrates why this Conservative government must go.”
Reform Party leader Nigel Farage posted on X that he was “honored” to help veterans raise funds to attend events in Normandy.
“Rishi Sunak didn’t even bother to attend an international event on Omaha Beach,” he said, adding, “Who really believes in our people, him or me?”
The BBC has contacted CCHQ for comment.
The issue is likely to be raised in the BBC general election debate tonight at 1930 BST, where Penny Mordaunt, the former defense secretary representing the Conservatives, will raise the issue.
She will join Labor deputy leader Angela Rayner, Lib Dem deputy leader Daisy Cooper, Scottish National Party leader Stephen Flynn and Green Party co-leader Kara Dan Carla Denyer, Plaid leader Rhun ap Iorwerth and Reform Party leader Nigel Farage go head-to-head.
