Sunak 'misjudged nation's mood' by leaving D-Day event to continue campaign

Rishi Sunak has been told that he has "misjudged the mood of the nation" by deciding to return early from the D-Day 80th anniversary commemorations to campaign in the general election.

- DAVID MADDOX

And he has been warned that he appears to have already handed the mantle of prime minister to Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, who joined veterans yesterday afternoon in Normandy.

The criticism from Gulf War veteran Colonel Stuart Crawford came after Mr Sunak decided not to attend the major gathering of world leaders with veterans at Omaha Beach yesterday afternoon. A Conservative source confirmed that he had returned to campaign in the election instead.

In contrast, Labour leader Sir Keir, who is the odds-on favourite to win the election and be prime minister on 5 July, was at the event, mingling with world leaders including US president Joe Biden, French president Emmanuel Macron and King Charles.

Asked whether it was a mistake for the prime minister to miss the event, Col Crawford, who served for 20 years in the Royal Tank Regiment, said: “I think Mr Sunak misjudges the mood of the nation by doing so. It’s a solemn occasion and sadly the last major anniversary of the landings which will feature many of the surviving veterans.

“Campaigning for an election which everyone knows he’s going to lose anyway is a poor excuse. He should be there with the others, and his absence and Starmer’s presence makes it look as if he’s passed the premiership to Sir Keir already.”

Foreign secretary Lord Cameron and defence secretary Grant Shapps represented the Tory government at the event. There was criticism from other quarters too. Former first sea lord Admiral Lord West told The Independent: “Nothing politicians do nowadays surprises me!”