Sunak Apologizes for Early Exit from D-Day Ceremony

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has apologized after leaving D-Day commemorations in Normandy, France, early to give a TV interview, sparking backlash at home.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has issued an apology after he left D-Day commemorations in Normandy, France, early and went on TV for an interview. The move has triggered widespread criticism at home and appears to be another setback for Sunak's Conservative Party, which trails the Labour Party in opinion polls.

"On reflection, it was a mistake not to stay longer, and I've apologized for that," Sunak told reporters. "But I also don't think it's right to be political in the midst of D-Day commemorations. The focus should rightly be on the veterans."

Sunak's departure from the event, which commemorated the 80th anniversary of the D-Day invasion, drew sharp criticism from both the opposition Labour Party and the public. Labour leader Keir Starmer remained in Normandy for the duration of the event, which was also attended by Britain's King Charles and US President Joe Biden. Sunak spoke at a British-led event but delegated other duties to ministers, including Foreign Secretary David Cameron.

His decision to leave early was reportedly made weeks in advance, before the general election was called. However, Sunak's campaign failed to anticipate the negative public reaction to the British leader ditching D-Day commemorations for a TV interview.

A Conservative politician who asked not to be identified told Reuters, "I can't explain it and I won't." The lawmaker suggested the incident could become a "Gillian Duffy moment" - a reference to when then-Prime Minister Gordon Brown apologized for being caught on tape calling a voter "a bigoted woman" in 2010, a moment seen as a turning point in a campaign he ultimately lost.

The British press has also been critical of Sunak's actions. Former British army commander in Afghanistan Richard Kemp told the Mirror tabloid, "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."

Labour spokesman Jonathan Ashworth said the "disrespect" Sunak showed was "shocking." He told Sky News, "I think it reveals something unbecoming about both his judgment and his character...And I think people today will be asking, what type of person thinks it's more important to rush away from an event like this, to go and do an interview to try and score political points to save his own skin than truly honor the fallen."

Nigel Farage, a lead campaigner for Brexit and leader of the Reform UK party, said Sunak's actions were "an insult" to America. "He doesn't really care about our history. He doesn't really care, frankly, about our culture. He cares about staying in Number 10," Farage said in a social media video.

The Conservative party is trailing Labour by about 20 points in opinion polls. Earlier this month, the Conservatives suffered historic losses in local elections, losing about half of their seats. Labour picked up seats and won most of the key mayoral races up for grabs, including in London. The center-left party showed strength in areas that voted for Brexit in 2016 and in places where former Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson prevailed over Labour in the 2019 general election.

In the interview with ITV on Thursday, Sunak warned that Labour would raise taxes if elected by about £2,000, or $2,500, per household. Labour leaders have denied the accusation and accused Sunak of "a desperate scare story."