PM apologises for leaving D-Day commemorations early

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has apologised for leaving D-Day commemorations in France early.

World leaders had gathered at the event to honour the anniversary of the Normandy landings in 1944.

Mr Sunak left after attending a British event leaving Foreign Secretary David Cameron to stand beside US President Joe Biden and France's Emmanuel Macron.

He posted on X to say: "It was a mistake not to stay in France longer – and I apologise."

The prime minister said the 80th anniversary of D-Day was “a profound moment” and the “ultimate sacrifice” made by those who put their lives on the line should not be “overshadowed by politics”.

He posted: “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.”

The D-Day commemorations included a British event at Ver sur Mer, which the prime minister and King Charles attended, but Mr Sunak left before the international commemoration on Omaha Beach.

In contrast, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer stayed at the event until the end, the party has confirmed, suggesting Mr Sunak returned in order to record an interview with ITV.

Labour's Jonathan Ashworth said: "In choosing to prioritise his own vanity TV appearances over our veterans, Rishi Sunak has shown what is most important to him."

Sir Keir Starmer said he was "struck" by how difficult had been for veterans to get there but how many made the effort to stand up from wheelchairs to salute the King.

He said: "I thought it was really important for me to be there to pay my respects to them and to those that did not return and actually to say thank you.

"Rishi Sunak will have to answer for his own actions. For me, there was nowhere else I was going to be."

Veterans Minister Johnny Mercer told the Sun's Election Countdown "you can imagine how I felt" about the PM leaving the event early, which he labelled "a significant mistake".

Mr Mercer said he had spoken to Mr Sunak earlier today and said "he knows this is a mistake, right, and he takes responsibility because he is the prime minister" but added "people make mistakes".

"I get the outrage and it's a mistake, it's a significant mistake for which he has apologised," said Mr Mercer, who is standing for the Conservatives in Plymouth.

"But I'm also not going to join the howls of the fake veterans supporters, suddenly upset that he doesn't treat veterans correctly, because that's not the case, is it?"

He asked for people to remember government decisions on veterans' issues, including on Northern Ireland legacy prosecutions, and claimed progress had stalled until Mr Sunak, "someone who actually believes in it", took the reins.

But 90-year-old Muriel from Carlisle, whose father was fighting in Italy on D-Day, told BBC Radio 5 Live she was “absolutely disgusted” with Mr Sunak and his departure had left her in tears.

She said: “He’s our prime minister, he was representing me. I just think it’s so wrong.

"I sat and watched it from half past seven and I was in tears for a lot of the time, and I just think it was dreadful.

"If he expects me to vote for him again, he can forget it."

Tim Montgomerie, the founder of Conservative Home, told BBC Newsnight that leaving the commemorations for an interview would be "indefensible".

He said: “I want to put my head in my hands... If he came back for a political interview from the D-Day commemorations that is indefensible."

Former Downing Street communications chief Sir Craig Oliver accused Mr Sunak of "not getting what it is to be a prime minister" on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, pointing out that D-Day should have been blocked out despite the general election.

He said: "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."

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey called the decision “a dereliction of duty”.

“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.”

Reform Party leader Nigel Farage posted on X to say he was "honoured" to help raise money for veterans to attend the event in Normandy.

"Rishi Sunak could not even be bothered to attend the international event above 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 on tonight's BBC general election debate at 1930 BST, with Penny Mordaunt, a former defence secretary, representing the Conservatives.

She will go head to head with Labour's deputy leader Angela Rayner, Lib Dem deputy Daisy Cooper, SNP leader Stephen Flynn, Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer, Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth, and Reform Party leader Nigel Farage.