Sunak issues apology over D-day ceremony absence
Rishi Sunak has issued an apology on social media for not staying longer at D-day events in France yesterday.
The prime minister, having left Normandy in order to instead pre-record an election interview with ITV, said “for the commemorations to be overshadowed by politics”.
He posted:
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.
Key events
Ed Davey: Sunak ‘abandoned’ veterans, ‘let down our country’, and has ‘brought shame’ to office of PM
Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey said Rishi Sunak’s actions in leaving D-day commemorations in France early had brought shame to the office of prime minister.
PA Media report he said:
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.
He has brought shame to that office and let down our country.
I am thinking right now of all those veterans and their families he left behind and the hurt they must be feeling. It is a total dereliction of duty and shows why this Conservative Government just has to go.
Sunak has apologised, saying “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.”
Sky News political correspondent Tamara Cohen has also posted to social media to say she feels it is a “significant” campaign moment. She said “Tories fighting for their seats see it as unforgivable unforced error – after the party has tried to appeal to older voters with announcements like national service.”
She added “Unless there was something else going on here than desire to do a political interview, feels significant.”
Sunak apologies for leaving D-Day early.
Tories fighting for their seats see it as unforgivable unforced error – after the party has tried to appeal to older voters with announcements like National Service. https://t.co/ydTkIOBQHI— Tamara Cohen (@tamcohen) June 7, 2024
Unless there was something else going on here than desire to do a political interview, feels significant.
— Tamara Cohen (@tamcohen) June 7, 2024
Rishi Sunak is being accused of “not getting what it is to be a prime minister” after skipping the major international D-day ceremony, former Downing Street communications chief Craig Oliver has said.
He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that D-day was known about as soon as Sunak called the general election.
“And I think if you’re planning these things, you’ve got to say ‘look, that’s going to block the prime minister out’. It’s a very important moment for the country. But it’s also a very important moment to show that you’re being prime ministerial.
“And the problem for Rishi Sunak this morning is he’s accused of not getting what it is to be a prime minister and what his duties are as a prime minister.”
Oliver also criticised the Tory campaign for sending children’s minister David Johnston into broadcast studios on Friday morning without knowing “what to say” about the snub.
“It was pretty clear that the Conservative campaign was going to be massively on the backfoot today.”
Johnston’s interviews took place before Sunak issued his apology and included him telling Times Radio: “As children’s minister I don’t exactly know what the prime minister’s diary looks like. But I do know, because we saw him at the various commemorations this week that he has been paying tribute to our veterans and marking the D-day commemorations and I think everybody can see he’s very committed to that.”
As to the issue about scheduling, the ITV UK editor, Paul Brand, told ITV News at Ten last night: “Today was the slot we were offered [by No 10] … we don’t know why.”
The shadow paymaster general, Labour’s Jonathan Ashworth, has also attacked Sunak’s decision to leave the ceremony early. 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 judgment from this out-of-touch prime minister.”
My colleague Jessica Elgot says today “feels like a very big moment in the campaign here, pointing out that Rishi Sunak’s apology makes it clear this was “not a gaffe but a deliberate choice”.
It was left to Conservative minister for children David Johnston to try to defend Rishi Sunak on the morning media round.
He had been hoping to talk about Tory proposals for child benefit, but instead, ahead of Sunak’s apology, he was pressed on the Today programme on where the prime minister had been when world leaders – plus David Cameron – were on Omaha beach.
He told the BBC’s Nick Robinson “Well, he was there earlier in the day for the commemoration. He was also in Portsmouth on Wednesday for the commemorations there.”
Robinson asked “Where was he when Cameron was standing alongside the president of America and the presidents of France. Where was the prime minister?”
Johnston floundered “Well, you’ll forgive me, Nick, as you rightly introduced me, I am a junior minister in the department of education, so I’m afraid I don’t know exactly where the prime minister was.”
Robinson shot back “He was in an ITV studio doing an interview defending what he’d said in the election debate. We all now know that, don’t we?”
Johnston reiterated his top line, telling listeners “as I say, I don’t know precisely where he was. I know he was there earlier that day. I know he was in Portsmouth on Wednesday.”
Robinson then asked the minister “don’t you think it’s inappropriate for him to leave the day early?” to which Johnston began talking about how he himself had attended a ceremony of commemoration in the constituency where he is standing.
Robinson cut him short with a curt “Thank you very much. You’ve told us what you do and don’t know, and thanks for coming on the programme.”
Labour: ’embarrassing’ Sunak left D-day ceremony early to ‘double down on a proven lie’
Labour’s housing spokesman Matthew Pennycook said it was “embarrassing” that the prime minister had left Normandy early to make an electioneering appearance in which he chose to “double down on a proven lie”.
Speaking on Sky News, Pennycook said:
I’m glad he’s apologised because it is absolutely a mistake. And it’s not just the fact that the prime minister left those D-day commemoration services – perhaps the last commemoration services for many of the veterans who attended, I mean, bear that in mind.
But the reason why he left those services? He left, let’s be clear, to come back and pre-record an interview where he double down on a proven lie about the Labour party’s intentions if it forms the next government.
I think it’s embarrassing.
I think it’s a shameful dereliction of duty.
He’s right to apologise, but the British public should ask themselves serious questions about a man who decides to make that decision in the first place.
The prime minister attended an event at Ver-sur-Mer in northern France, which was also attended by King Charles and Queen Camilla, and the French president, Emmanuel Macron. But he did not attend the late afternoon ceremony at Omaha beach, in Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer, and instead returned to the UK. Paul Brand, ITV’s UK editor, said the prime minister returned from Normandy to do the interview.
Asked on Sky News why he thought the prime minister had done that, Labour’s Pennycook said:
You’d have to ask him. I have absolutely no idea, on such an important service. why the prime minister felt that it was appropriate to leave partway through that service.
And I’m glad Keir Starmer, Labour leader, stayed at that service. It was an important chance not only to meet veterans but to meet international leaders like president Macron, [and Ukraine’s] president Zelenskiy.
Sunak issues apology over D-day ceremony absence
Rishi Sunak has issued an apology on social media for not staying longer at D-day events in France yesterday.
The prime minister, having left Normandy in order to instead pre-record an election interview with ITV, said “for the commemorations to be overshadowed by politics”.
He posted:
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.
Welcome and opening summary …
Good morning. Welcome to our live coverage of the 2024 general election on a Friday which will see the third live TV debate of the week. After Scottish leaders debated on STV on Monday, and ITV hosted Rishi Sunak, Keir Starmer and those tax claims on Tuesday, Friday night is the BBC’s turn to host a seven-way debate. More on that in a minute. Here are your headlines …
Senior Conservatives have been fond of the phrase “as sure as night follows day” on the campaign trail in regard to Labour governments putting taxes up. On this blog you’ve got night following day in the shape of Andrew Sparrow being here later on to cover the debate, but Martin Belam here to start. Do drop me a line on [email protected] if you need to get in touch – I find it especially useful if you are pointing out my typos or errors or suggesting omissions.