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Rishi Sunak has been pressured to apologise this morning after he ditched D-Day occasions in France early to take part in a TV interview for the General Election.

The PM has mentioned “it was a mistake” to not keep in France for the main worldwide occasion, which included the leaders of France, Germany and the US. The anniversary ceremony may be the final main milestone occasion for lots of the D-Day veterans.

Instead, Mr Sunak left the commemorations in Normandy early to hurry again to the UK for a prerecorded ITV interview with Paul Brand.

Mr Sunak mentioned: “The eightieth anniversary of D-day has been a profound second to honour the courageous women and men who put their lives on the road to guard our values, our freedom and our democracy. This anniversary needs to be about those that made the last word sacrifice for our nation. The very last thing I need is for the commemorations to be overshadowed by politics.

“I care deeply about veterans and have been honoured to represent the UK at a number of events in Portsmouth and France over the past two days and to meet those who fought so bravely.

“After the conclusion of the British event in Normandy, I returned back to the UK. On reflection, it was a mistake not to stay in France longer – and I apologise.”

Mr Sunak attended an event at Ver-sur-Mer in northern France, alongside King Charles, Queen Camilla, and the French president, Emmanuel Macron. However, he did not stay for the major ceremony at Omaha Beach, in Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer.

Mr Sunak’s decision was widely criticised across the political spectrum.

Nigel Farage, the new leader of Reform UK, tweeted: “The Prime Minister has ducked out of the worldwide D-Day occasion to fly again to the UK to marketing campaign. I’m right here in Normandy in a private capability as a result of I believe it issues. Does he?”

Earlier this morning, Labour’s shadow housing minister Matthew Pennycook called it “embarrassing” and a “shameful dereliction of responsibility”. Labour’s Jonathan Ashworth added: “It is yet more desperation, yet more chaos, and yet more dreadful judgment from this out-of-touch prime minister.”

Lib Dem leader Ed Davey said that Mr Sunak “deserted” veterans and “let down our nation”. He said the decision to leave early has “introduced disgrace” to the office of PM.

Tim Montgomerie, founder of ConservativeHome and a leading Conservative activist, called it “political malpractice”. He instructed BBC Newsnight: “I think it’s political malpractice of the highest order if Rishi Sunak absented himself for an election interview… it’s not the right thing to do at a fundamental level.”

Former Downing Street communications chief Craig Oliver accused Mr Sunak of “not getting what it is to be a prime minister” after he skipped the main worldwide D-Day ceremony.

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