British Chancellor Rishi Sunak apologized on Friday for cutting early the ceremony to mark the Normandy landings in France. Photo courtesy of the French Embassy in the United States/UPI
June 7 (UPI) — British Chancellor Rishi Sunak apologized Friday for missing some of Thursday's Normandy landings ceremonies in France to return to Britain for a television interview.
In his X post, Sunak said he had returned to the UK after the UK events in Normandy and that it had been a “mistake not to stay in France longer”.
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“This day should be for those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country,” he said. “The last thing I want is for the commemorations to be overshadowed by politics. I care deeply about our veterans and have been honoured to represent Britain and meet with those who served bravely at a number of events in Portsmouth and France over the past two days.”
Mr Sunak was criticised for leaving the ceremony to attend a pre-recorded interview with ITV to be broadcast next week, with former British prime minister and foreign secretary David Cameron standing in for him for the rest of the ceremony.
ITV's UK editor Paul Brand said it was Mr Sunak's team that chose the time for the interview.
“Today was the time they offered us. I don't know why,” Brand said, according to Politico.
Sunak and the Conservative Party will face off in the upcoming general election on July 4. The Labour Party is expected to do well, with some polls even predicting that it will take control of the UK government.
“Putting his own vanity TV appearances ahead of veterans is more despair, more confusion and more appalling judgement from this out-of-touch prime minister,” Labour spokesman Jonathan Ashworth said.
