Rishi Sunak has acknowledged that leaving the D-Day commemorations in Normandy early was a “mistake.”
The prime minister faced significant backlash for his absence from the 80th anniversary D-Day ceremony on Thursday.
Sunak left France for the UK to record a television interview scheduled to air next week.
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His last appearance was a mid-morning speech, and he was notably absent from the International Ceremony on Omaha Beach at 3:30 pm, which was attended by 25 heads of state, veterans, and officials.
Questions arose about whether Sunak intended to attend the ceremony at all, as he was reportedly focused on the general election campaign. However, this decision was reversed, leading to a short visit as a compromise.
On Friday morning, Sunak issued an apology, expressing his deep respect for veterans. He admitted that his early departure was an error, saying,
“The 80th anniversary of D-Day is a profound moment to honor those who risked everything for our values, freedom, and democracy. This anniversary should highlight those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. The last thing I want is for politics to overshadow these commemorations.”
Scottish Conservatives leader Douglas Ross described the commemoration as a “crucial moment in our history,” supporting Sunak’s apology.
Veterans Affairs minister Johnny Mercer called the early departure a significant “mistake” and mentioned that Sunak acknowledged the error after their conversation.
Mercer criticized other politicians’ reactions as “faux outrage,” accusing them of hindering efforts to improve veterans’ affairs.
Political opponents used the incident to criticize Sunak, labeling it a “dereliction of duty.” Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey tweeted that Sunak “abandoned [veterans] on the beaches of Normandy,” calling it a total failure of duty.
Labour shadow minister Jonathan Ashworth accused Sunak of prioritizing a TV appearance over honoring veterans, describing the decision as a reflection of Sunak’s poor judgment.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer emphasized the importance of attending the entire ceremony, asserting that Sunak must justify his choices.
Labour’s shadow defence secretary John Healey wrote to defence secretary Grant Shapps, seeking details on when Sunak’s partial attendance was decided, if the TV interview took place during the D-Day events, and whether the French government was initially told Sunak would not attend.
SNP minister Neil Gray also condemned Sunak’s decision, calling it a “dereliction of duty” and an insult to veterans.
Gray highlighted the potential offense caused to the veterans’ community and criticized Sunak’s judgment in prioritizing a TV interview over completing the commemorations.
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