Rishi Sunak slammed as PM snubs D-Day ceremony with world leaders for ITV interview

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has sparked outrage after the Tory party leader brazenly snubbed a ceremony to commemorate fallen D-Day veterans in order to take part in a pre-recorded TV interview. The beleaguered PM, who is currently predicted to face one of the biggest election defeats in Tory history, has been slammed by military veterans and politicians alike for leaving behind veterans and active servicemen to drum up voter support with ITV.

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

The latest move is just one in a long line of missteps from the PM which could cost him the election, as his Labour opponents have urged him to "tell the truth" about whether he swerved the poignant commemorations to "prove he's not a liar" and try to claw back some positive PR in the run up to the polls.

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The interview, which is due to be broadcast on ITV next Wednesday, June 12, was conducted by ITV journalist Paul Brand, who himself confirmed that Rishi had flown back from Normandy to the interview with the channel in the late afternoon or early evening on Thursday.

Mr Brand said ITV was interviewing all the party leaders and had been working to secure a date with Mr Sunak for some time. "Today was the slot they offered us," he said. "We don't know why.”

Ahead of the interview’s airdate, a sneak preview of what voters can expect was shared online, and featured Mr.Sunak lashing out at claims he lied about Labour’s tax plans, after the Prime Minister told viewers that Labour’s tax plans will create a £38.5bn hole in public finances over four years, during the first televised election debate earlier this week.

Rishi’s decision to leave the planned memorial events in Normandy for the sake of politics have received widespread criticism among voters, especially as he had initially been present for the Franco-British commemorations at Ver-sur-Mer on Thursday attended by King Charles and Queen Camilla, alongside French President Emmanuel Macron.

Appearing alongside his wife Akshata Murthy, Mr Sunak told veterans: "We owe you everything." Yet in a surprising move, he elected not to stay for the high-profile Omaha beach ceremony in Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer later that day and instead opted to head back to the UK for the interview, reports The Daily Record.

His political rival, Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer meanwhile did attend the service as he stood alongside world leaders including Mr Macron and US President Joe Biden at the event alongside Defence Secretary Grant Shapps and Foreign Secretary David Cameron, whom Mr Sunak sent in his place. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky also attended, and was pictured deep in conversation with Mr Starmer, before all the world leaders released a statement condemning the ongoing violence in Gaza.

Earlier in the day, a Tory source had downplayed the significance of Rishi’s conspicuous absence from the proceedings as they argued that the PM would be reunited with Mr Macron, Mr Biden, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and other top leaders at the G7 summit in Italy next week. Yet even despite this, his absence drew the ire of several senior military figures who felt it was a gross oversight on his part to miss out on such a historic occasion.

Col Richard Kemp, a former British Army commander in Afghanistan, told the Mirror: “I know there is a General Election campaign to fight but this is a very significant anniversary of a major military achievement which led to freedom in Europe. It’s being 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 PM of our country he should have been there to represent the country and to show our gratitude to those who fell.”

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

By contrast, Mr Starmer’s presence at the event was well received, especially after he dubbed the occasion as “moving and powerful” before expressing his utmost thanks to the servicemen and women who had made it happen. He told them: "My message to the veterans is 'thank you’”