Rishi Sunak this morning apologised for leaving D-Day events early to take part in a TV interview and admitted it was a ‘mistake’ for him not to stay longer.
The PM has faced a Tory backlash after it emerged he travelled back from Normandy in order to continue his general election campaign in front of ITV cameras.
He had appeared in northern France earlier on Thursday to pay tribute to veterans.
But Mr Sunak returned to Britain before commemoration events to mark the 80th anniversary of the Allied invasion of Western Europe were over.
It meant the PM missed a major international ceremony and gathering of world leaders on Omaha Beach.
His early departure saw Foreign Secretary David Cameron instead pictured alongside US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer remained in Normandy for the international ceremony and was pictured in talks with Ukraine leader Volodymyr Zelensky.
It later emerged that Mr Sunak had given a broadcast interview following his return from Normandy, a clip of which was shared by ITV journalist Paul Brand.
Mr Brand told ITV News at Ten: ‘Today was the slot we were offered… we don’t know why.’
In a social media post this morning, Mr Sunak admitted ‘it was a mistake not to stay in France longer – and I apologise’.
Labour accused Mr Sunak of a ‘dereliction of duty’ for skipping the full programme of D-Day events, while the Liberal Democrats said the PM had ‘let down our country’.
Mr Sunak was also facing anger from within his own Tory ranks, with fears he had dealt a shattering blow to the Conservatives’ general election hopes.
A former minister told : ‘It simply underlines what dreadful advice he gets from the No10 operation.
‘And begs the question why he went to the country when D-Day was obviously a huge event.
‘He could have been seen as an international statesman, rather than someone who doesn’t show respect to the fallen.
‘And bear in mind, too, that polls already show [Nigel] Farage ahead among the over-55s.’
One Tory defending a northern seat said it could be as bad as Theresa May’s 2017 social care announcement, which prompted her notorious ‘nothing has changed’ U-turn. ‘We’ll know over the next week,’ they said.
Another told the humilating episode would do particular damage with the older generation of voters the party has been targeting.
They expressed worries about a Conservative wipeout on 4 July, saying: ‘Honestly fear a rump of 70 led by Priti [Patel] that strikes a deal with Farage in 18 months is becoming possible, even likely.’
Conservative commentator Tim Montgomerie told BBC Newsnight of the PM’s decision to leave Normandy early: ‘If he came back for a political interview from the D-Day commemoration, that is absolutely indefensible.
‘This is going to be the last big commemoration when survivors will be present.
‘I think it’s political malpractice of the highest order if Rishi Sunak absented himself for an election interview on ITV.’
One Conservative MP, in reference to ex-Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn refusing to sing the national anthem early on in his leadership, told the Spectator: ‘This is Corbyn levels of disrespect.’
Colonel 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.’
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said: ‘The Prime Minister has ducked out of the international D-Day event to fly back to the UK to campaign.
‘I am here in Normandy in a personal capacity because I think it matters. Does he?’
In his apology posted on X/Twitter, the PM wrote: ‘The 80th anniversary of D-Day has been a profound moment to honour the brave men and women who put their lives on the line to protect our values, our freedom and our democracy.
‘This anniversary should be about those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.
‘The last thing I want 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.’
Following Mr Sunak’s apology, Labour shadow minister Jonathan Ashworth said: ‘Yesterday’s D-Day commemorations were about remembering the bravery of all those who serve our country.
‘In choosing to prioritise his own vanity TV appearances over our veterans, Rishi Sunak has shown what is most important to him.
‘It is yet more desperation, yet more chaos, and yet more dreadful judgement from this out of touch PM.’
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said: ‘One of the greatest privileges of the office of PM is to be there to honour those who served, yet Rishi Sunak abandoned them on the beaches of Normandy.
‘He has brought shame to that office and let down our country.
‘I am thinking right now of all those veterans and their families he left behind and the hurt they must be feeling.
‘It is a total dereliction of duty and shows why this Conservative government just has to go.’