Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has apologized after skipping D-Day commemorations in France for a TV interview, sparking widespread criticism. Sunak, facing a July 4 general election, admitted it was a “mistake” to leave the event early and regretted that the commemoration was “overshadowed by politics.”
Sunak attended Thursday’s memorial at Ver-sur-Mer in northern France but skipped the late afternoon ceremony at Omaha Beach. Foreign Secretary David Cameron and Defense Secretary Grant Shapps represented the British government in his absence. Labour Leader Keir Starmer, Sunak’s main opponent in the upcoming election, attended the event.
Sunak returned to London for an interview with ITV’s Tonight program, set to air next Wednesday. This decision drew anger from political and military figures in the UK. Former British Army commander in Afghanistan, Richard Kemp, criticized Sunak, telling the Mirror, “He should have stayed. As the PM of our country, he should have been there to represent the country and show our gratitude to those who fell.”
In his apology issued Friday morning, Sunak stated, “The last thing I wanted was for the commemorations to be overshadowed by politics. I care deeply about veterans and have been honored to represent the UK at several events in Portsmouth and France over the past two days. On reflection, it was a mistake not to stay in France longer — and I apologize.”
ITV’s UK Editor, Paul Brand, revealed that Sunak’s team had offered the interview slot. “Today was the slot they offered us,” he told ITV’s News at Ten. “We don’t know why.”
The controversy benefits the opposition Labour Party, which is leading in the polls but has faced scrutiny over its tax and spending plans. Labour spokesperson Jonathan Ashworth accused Sunak of “choosing to prioritize his own vanity TV appearances over our veterans,” calling it “yet more desperation, yet more chaos, and yet more dreadful judgment from this out-of-touch prime minister.”
