Prime Minister Rishi Sunak of the United Kingdom issued an apology on Friday for his early departure from a D-Day commemoration in France, acknowledging the move as a significant public relations misstep amid an ongoing general election campaign.
“After the conclusion of the British event in Normandy, I returned back to the UK,” Sunak wrote on social media platform X. “On reflection, it was a mistake not to stay in France longer — and I apologize.”
Sunak did not provide a specific reason for his early departure. However, after returning to London, he participated in an interview with the British network ITV. During the interview, he faced questions regarding his recent claim during a televised debate that the opposition Labour Party would increase taxes on British households by £2,000, approximately $2,560.
The apology followed significant criticism from various quarters with the general election less than four weeks away. The Labour Party condemned his early exit as a “dereliction of duty,” while Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, accused Sunak of abandoning the aging veterans of the D-Day invasion “on the beaches.” Some members of Sunak’s Conservative Party also expressed their disappointment.
Sunak’s early departure left Foreign Secretary David Cameron to represent Britain at the afternoon ceremony, attended by leaders from France, Germany, and the United States. This created an unusual scene where Cameron, a former prime minister, was photographed on Omaha Beach with President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Cameron has frequently represented Sunak on the global stage due to Sunak’s domestic focus on retaining Conservative power. However, this incident allowed critics to argue that Sunak prioritized political matters over honoring a significant historical event in the fight against Nazi tyranny.
“In choosing to prioritize his own vanity TV appearances over our veterans, Rishi Sunak has shown what is most important,” said Jonathan Ashworth, a prominent Labour official, highlighting how the party intends to leverage this decision against Sunak. “It is yet more desperation, yet more chaos and yet more dreadful judgment from this out-of-touch prime minister.”
Sunak had attended a morning ceremony on Thursday at Ver-sur-Mer in northern France, alongside Macron, King Charles III, and Queen Camilla. However, he missed the subsequent ceremony at Omaha Beach, which included Macron, Biden, Scholz, and other leaders.
“This anniversary should be about those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country,” Sunak emphasized in his social media post. “The last thing I want is for the commemorations to be overshadowed by politics.”
Labour leader Keir Starmer, who remained for the event, was photographed engaging with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky. Starmer’s presence provided him an opportunity to bolster his international profile, particularly significant as his party has maintained a strong polling lead over the Conservatives for 18 months.
Starmer, seeking to regain momentum after a challenging debate with Sunak, capitalized on his continued presence at the commemoration. Meanwhile, Sunak faced additional scrutiny during his ITV interview regarding his assertions about Labour’s tax plans. Starmer has vehemently denied these accusations, labeling them as false.
Paul Brand, ITV’s U.K. editor, mentioned that the network had long sought an interview with Sunak. “Today was the slot they offered us,” he stated on ITV’s “News at Ten” program. “We don’t know why.”
