Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Queen Camilla, King Charles III, President of France Emmanuel Macron and Brigitte Macron during the wreath laying (Picture: Pool/Getty Images)
Rishi Sunak has said sorry for leaving D-Day events early to record a TV interview about the election, adding it was ‘a mistake not to stay in France longer – and I apologise’.
Labour had accused the PM of a ‘dereliction of duty’ after he sat down with ITV on Thursday to defend claims about Sir Keir Starmer’s tax plans, having left commemoration events in France before a gathering of the world leaders on Omaha Beach.
Scroll down or click here to go straight to our live updates
He had earlier appeared in Normandy to pay tribute to veterans but left before the ceremony was over, while Sir Keir remained alongside Joe Biden, Emmanuel Macron and the Prince of Wales.
It emerged Mr Sunak had given a broadcast interview on the same day.
Shadow paymaster general Jonathan Ashworth said: ‘The Prime Minister skipping off early from D-Day commemorations to record a television interview where he once again lied through his teeth is both an embarrassment and a total dereliction of duty.
‘Our country deserves so much better than out-of-touch, desperate Rishi Sunak and his chaotic Tory Party.’
The 2024 General Election – Metro style
Not sure what to make of the General Election? We got you.
In your inbox
Follow the battle for No 10 with our free weekly newsletter, bringing you easy-to-read breakdowns and straightforward analysis.
What really matters to you
We focus on the issues that our readers care about. Explore parties’ policies on immigration, LGBTQ+ rights and more.
On mobile
Join us on WhatsApp for a daily selection of news and opinion as the election madness gets underway.
On TikTok
Fact-checking? Yes. Voters’ opinions? Yes. Dogs at polling stations? Also yes. Follow us on TikTok.
Defending the PM, children’s minister David Johnston rejected the suggestion it was a ‘bizarre choice’ to miss the gathering of world leaders.
‘He was at the commemorations in Portsmouth on Wednesday, he was in Normandy yesterday and he and this Government have done huge amounts to support our veterans,’ he said.