- author, Jennifer McKiernan
- role, BBC News Political Reporter
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has apologised after facing backlash after cutting short a ceremony to mark the Normandy landings in France early.
In what is widely seen as the biggest blunder of the general election campaign so far, Mr Sunak faces accusations of dereliction of duty after leaving an event marking the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings early.
World leaders, including US President Joe Biden, gathered to pay their respects on Thursday, while Sunak returned to Britain, deputised by Foreign Secretary David Cameron.
Regarding his decision to return home after attending an event in the UK, the Prime Minister told reporters, “On reflection, it was a mistake. I apologise.”
Mr Sunak said his participation in the Normandy landings commemorations had been planned “weeks in advance” and that he had attended other events with veterans, including in Portsmouth.
“He attended all the UK events alongside British veterans before returning home ahead of an event with international leaders scheduled for later in the day,” he said.
“In retrospect, it was a mistake and I apologize.”
The Prime Minister also Apologized for XHe said he hoped the “ultimate sacrifice” of those who risked their lives would not be “overshadowed by politics.”
Speaking on the BBC’s first election debate on Friday night, Conservative leader Penny Mordaunt said Mr Sunak’s decision to resign was “completely wrong” and that he was right to apologise.
Commemorations of the Normandy landings included a British-hosted event in Vers-sur-Mer attended by the prime minister and King Charles, but Mr Sunak left ahead of the international commemoration at Omaha Beach.
Labour’s Jonathan Ashworth said: “By choosing to prioritise his own vanity TV appearances over war veterans, Rishi Sunak has shown what matters most to him.”
Sir Keir said he was “shocked” by how difficult it had been for veterans to get there and how many made the effort to get up from their wheelchairs to salute the King.
He said, “I just thought it was really important for me to be there to pay tribute to them and to those who didn’t come back and actually say thank you.”
“Rishi Sunak must take responsibility for his actions. For me, there was no other place for me to be.”
Foreign Secretary David Cameron, who appeared on Mr Sunak’s behalf alongside world leaders at the international conference, defended the prime minister, saying he had been “candid”.
Commenting on Mr Sunak’s departure following the UK event, Lord Cameron said: “He had long-standing plans to return afterwards and it’s not a surprise as we are now in the middle of an election campaign.”
“But upon reflection, he said he wished he had stayed for the later events. I think it’s to his credit that he was open about it.”
Veterans’ Minister Johnny Mercer said veterans would be “quite shocked” and it was “a bit tough for me personally”, but added that he supported the Prime Minister.
“I think apologizing was the right thing to do. It was a mistake and it shouldn’t have happened,” he said.
“Obviously people want to politicize this and attack him. I’m not going to be part of that group.”
“I think people make mistakes. This was a mistake. He accepts it and has apologized. I’m going to keep fighting for him.”
He asked people to remind them of the government’s decisions on veterans’ issues, including the veterans’ prosecution in Northern Ireland, and insisted that Mr Sunak and his wife had been “deeply committed to this for many years”.
But Muriel, 90, from Carlisle, whose father fought in Italy on the day of the Normandy landings, told BBC Radio 5 Live she was “absolutely disgusted” with Mr Sunak and was moved to tears by his resignation.
She said: “He was our prime minister and he represented me. I think it’s so wrong.”
“I sat watching the movie from 7:30 and was in tears for most of it. I thought it was a really bad movie.
“If he expects me to vote for him again, forget it.”
World War Two pilot Jack Hemmings, 102, who visited Normandy for the commemorations, told the BBC that Mr Sunak’s early departure was “the wrong decision”.
“He chose to encourage the thousands of people who were murdered to vote.”
Hemmings, a Liberal Democrat, served with No. 353 Squadron and flew Lockheed Hudsons on maritime patrols to protect the Bay of Bengal from Japanese aggression.
Tim Montgomery, founder of Conservative Home, told BBC Newsnight that it was “inexcusable” to take time off the commemoration to give an interview.
“It makes you want to hold your head in your hands…If you come back from the commemoration of the Normandy landings to give a political interview, there’s no excuse for that,” he said.
Sir Craig Oliver, a former Downing Street communications director, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that Mr Sunak “has no idea what it means to be prime minister” and said D-Day should have been ruled out despite there being a general election.
“This is a very important moment for the country but also a very important moment for me as prime minister,” he said.
“And the problem for Rishi Sunak this morning is that he’s being accused of not understanding what it means to be chancellor and what the duties of that are.”
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey called the decision a “dereliction of duty”.
“One of the great privileges of the Chancellorship is to be there to honour those who have served, but Rishi Sunak left them behind on the beaches of Normandy.”
“This is a complete dereliction of duty and shows why this Conservative government must go.”
Reform Party leader Nigel Farage told X he was “honoured” to help raise funds for veterans attending the Normandy event.
“Rishi Sunak wasn’t even going to attend an international event over Omaha Beach,” he said, adding: “Who really believes in our people, him or me?”
The BBC has contacted CCHQ for comment.
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