The prime minister was campaigning in Yorkshire yesterday without media appearances after cutting short his attendance at the 80th anniversary of D-day in France with other world leaders.
Mel Stride, the work and pensions secretary, said Sunak would not resign over the move in the middle of an election campaign. Asked whether Sunak might hand over the Conservative leadership before the 4 July election, Stride dismissed the idea.
"There should be no question of anything other than [Sunak continuing to lead the party]," he told Sky News.
Stride said Sunak "deeply regrets" his decision to leave the D-day events early, calling the prime minister "deeply patriotic" and committed to supporting veterans.
"He has recognised that he made a mistake. He deeply regrets that. He has apologised unequivocally for that," Stride said.
"And I think he will be feeling this personally very deeply because he's a deeply patriotic person. He will be deeply uncomfortable with what has happened."
Sunak has been criticised by politicians across the spectrum for his decision. The choice to return to the UK early to resume campaigning left Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, and Nigel Farage, the Reform UK leader, on the world stage in France.
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