Rishi Sunak slammed as the Prime Minister rejects D-Day ceremony with world leaders for an ITV interview

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has sparked outrage after the Conservative party leader flip-flopped on a D-Day commemoration ceremony to take part in a pre-recorded TV interview. The embattled prime minister, who is now tipped to face one of the biggest election defeats in Tory history, has been criticized by military veterans and politicians alike for leaving veterans and active duty military behind to support his constituents with ITV.

Earlier on Thursday, June 6, Mr Sunak was in France to pay his respects but flew back specially from the Normandy beaches to do the interview according to the Mirror, a move which saw him skip a major memorial service in commemorating the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings that helped change the course of World War II.

The latest move is just one in a long line of missteps by the prime minister that could cost him the election as his Labor opponents urged him to “tell the truth” if he diverted the emotional commemoration to “prove that he is not a liar”. and try to get some positive PR back in the lead up to the vote.

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The interview, which is due to air on ITV next Wednesday, June 12, was conducted by ITV journalist Paul Brand, who himself confirmed that Rishi had flown back from Normandy for the station’s interview late or early Thursday afternoon . .

Brand said ITV had interviewed all party leaders and had been working to secure a meeting with Mr Sunak for some time. “Today was the place they gave us,” he said. “We don’t know why.”

Ahead of the interview’s broadcast date, a short preview of what voters can expect was shared online and featured Mr Sunak fending off claims he lied about Labour’s tax plans after the Prime Minister told them viewers that Labour’s tax plans will create £38.5 billion. hole in the public finances for four years during the first televised election debate earlier this week.

Rishi’s decision to walk out of planned commemorations in Normandy for the sake of politics was widely criticized among voters, particularly as he was initially present at the Franco-British commemorations in Ver-sur-Mer on Thursday, where they attended by King Charles and Queen Camilla. , alongside French President Emmanuel Macron.

Appearing alongside his wife Akshata Murthy, Mr Sunak told the veterans: “We owe you everything.” However, in a surprise move, he chose not to stay for the high-profile ceremony on Omaha Beach in Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer later that day and instead opted to return to the UK for the interview , reports The Daily Record.

His political rival, Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer, meanwhile attended the service as he sat alongside world leaders including Mr Macron and US President Joe Biden at the event, along with Defense Secretary Grant Shapps and Minister of Foreign Affairs David Cameron, whom Sunak sent in his place. . Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also attended and was photographed deep in conversation with Mr Starmer, before all world leaders issued a statement condemning the ongoing violence in Gaza.

Earlier in the day, a Conservative source played down the significance of Rishi’s conspicuous absence from the proceedings, arguing that the prime minister would be reunited with Mr Macron, Mr Biden, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and other top leaders at the upcoming G7 summit in Italy. week. However, even despite this, his absence drew the ire of several senior military figures who felt it was gross negligence on his part to miss such a historic occasion.

Col Richard Kemp, a former British army commander in Afghanistan, told the Mirror: “I know we have to fight a general election campaign, but this is a very significant anniversary of a major military achievement that led to freedom in Europe. It is attended by some of the veterans who may never attend another due to their age. I think it was very important that he showed his commitment to it.

“He should have stayed. As the Prime Minister of our country, he should have been there to represent the country and show our gratitude to those who have fallen.”

Former British Army officer Colonel Hamish de Bretton-Gordon also criticized the decision. He said: “It’s a big disappointment. What could be more important than respecting the people who gave their lives for this country?”

Instead, Mr Starmer’s presence at the event was well received, especially after he called the occasion “exciting and powerful” before expressing his biggest thanks to the servicemen and women who made it happen. He told them: “My message to the veterans is ‘thank you'”