Sunak denies there was any plan for him not to attend D-day eventsAsked directly by the media “Did you or anyone around you ever consider skipping the events” in Normandy.
Sunak said “That’s simply not right. The itinerary for these events was set weeks ago, before the general election campaign.”
He told Sky News “I stuck to the intinerary.”
As an explanation, Q then is why it was always scheduled for PM to leave event early regardless of GE, given elderly veterans had come all the way & prob 4 the last time https://t.co/b4s2BSf0J2
— Beth Rigby (@BethRigby) June 7, 2024″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”n PM in apologises for leaving D-Day event early, explains “itinerary was set wks ago b4 GE campaign” > As an explanation, Q then is why it was always scheduled for PM to leave event early regardless of GE, given elderly veterans had come all the way & prob 4 the last time
n”,”elementId”:”c3614118-8a24-4231-96d4-d262db7a1259″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”2) Sunak is suggesting that it is wrong for opposition parties to “politicise” his error. “I think it’s important though, given the enormity of the sacrifice made, that we don’t politicise this,” he told Sky. But this argument is problematic for at least two reasons. First, it is astonishingly naive to think that how the PM deals with important national commemorations should not be a political matter, and a factor in whether or not voters think he is the right person for the job. And, second, it is also arguably hypocritical, given that Sunak left France to record a TV interview in which he attacked Labour.
“,”elementId”:”b58b8ad1-a9f2-4124-9b5f-3a6bac4a8ef1″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”This is from Jon Sopel from the News Agents podcast.
“,”elementId”:”653319e2-ac22-4423-bab2-ec0f43609b0b”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TweetBlockElement”,”source”:”Twitter”,”id”:”1799059890813751406″,”elementId”:”a2afcddf-c592-41d5-a348-6e15e270643e”,”hasMedia”:false,”role”:”inline”,”url”:”https://twitter.com/jonsopel/status/1799059890813751406″,”isThirdPartyTracking”:false,”html”:”Sorry, did @RishiSunak really just say that his return early from D-Day to give an interview to ITV’s @PaulBrandITV so he could attack Starmer should not be politicised???? I mean, this raises chutzpah into an art form….. t.co/kZFkgII93X
— Jon Sopel (@jonsopel) June 7, 2024″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”n Sorry, did @RishiSunak really just say that his return early from D-Day to give an interview to ITV’s @PaulBrandITV so he could attack Starmer should not be politicised???? I mean, this raises chutzpah into an art form…..
n”,”elementId”:”bd888cf2-74f1-484d-9a6a-967939c71250″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”And this is from Adam Bienkov from Byline Times.
“,”elementId”:”977cd463-9793-4305-ac5c-d5df18168a9b”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TweetBlockElement”,”source”:”Twitter”,”id”:”1799059658684150144″,”elementId”:”80c7bbb1-4ef3-443e-99b5-f38fef371f61″,”hasMedia”:false,”role”:”inline”,”url”:”https://twitter.com/AdamBienkov/status/1799059658684150144″,”isThirdPartyTracking”:false,”html”:”“I don’t think it’s right to be political in the midst of D-Day commemorations” says Rishi Sunak, who skipped out of the D-Day commemorations in order to take part in a televised interview devoted to repeating his campaign attacks on his political opponents.
— Adam Bienkov (@AdamBienkov) June 7, 2024″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”n “I don’t think it’s right to be political in the midst of D-Day commemorations” says Rishi Sunak, who skipped out of the D-Day commemorations in order to take part in a televised interview devoted to repeating his campaign attacks on his political opponents.
n”,”elementId”:”ce937104-9c0d-40fe-ac1a-ee356840da92″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1717766725000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”14.25 BST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1717767901000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”14.45 BST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1717767902000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”14.45 BST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”14.45″,”title”:”Sunak suggests he was never scheduled to attend international leaders’ D-day event anyway”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Fri 7 Jun 2024 17.29 BST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Fri 7 Jun 2024 08.14 BST”},{“id”:”6662fd3c8f08d846f761a930″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”Senior figures in the Conservative party have been defending Rishi Sunak over his decision to leave France yesterday before the 80th anniversary D-day commemorations had finished.
“,”elementId”:”244dd004-56a8-4f5e-b0b8-ae61001758ce”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”Foreign secretary David Cameron, who did attend the international leader’s event, said:
“,”elementId”:”a808bf29-5891-47b8-943f-fdc378d29747″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”n I think it is a tribute to the way he is that he thought on reflection he wished he had stayed in France and instead of digging in and defending himself he just came straight out and said on reflection I wish I had stayed longer.
n But to be fair, he was at the Portsmouth event with all the veterans., gave a brilliant speech, he was at the British event at our brand new built commemorative centre above Gold Beach in Normandy where he was with the veterans, gave a fantastic speech.
n He always represents our country very well abroad and he had a longstanding plan to return after that and we are in the middle of an election campaign so that is not surprising.
n”,”elementId”:”ded9cb3e-2f81-4167-8a9a-1be1f4f64c86″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”Sunak had earlier suggested the intinerary was set before the election was called.
“,”elementId”:”428edd5e-431f-4163-aff7-c610abe00456″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”Veterans minister Johnny Mercer has also weighed in again. In a social media message reposted by business secretary Kemi Badenoch, he said “Everyone who actually knows Rishi knows how this moment is not reflective on his views on veterans.”
“,”elementId”:”40f78e9c-7eac-494e-a64b-841d84128dc2″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”Sunak told Sky News “people can judge me by my actions when it comes to supporting the armed forces.”
“,”elementId”:”191b5760-b90d-4a6c-ba6c-158e4bcceadb”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”Adm Lord West, the former head of the Royal Navy, was less impressed. He told the BBC World at One “I’d have thought he’d have been desperate to be involved in such a major, major event of such significance to so many millions of people across the UK. I find it very strange that he should do such an own goal, I mean it comes across so badly.”
“,”elementId”:”58efe2ed-6da8-4490-8051-3c80a2728bd9″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”Cameron ultimately took Sunak’s place in the photographs of the world leader lineup. The Liberal Democrats have portrayed the image as showing Sunak in a “dereliction of duty”.
“,”elementId”:”ceccca63-5902-4e43-a366-0ec043ca2654″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TweetBlockElement”,”source”:”Twitter”,”id”:”1799034194292875298″,”elementId”:”416cbf4d-8f09-47a0-b72d-4181aa87eda1″,”hasMedia”:false,”role”:”inline”,”url”:”https://x.com/LibDems/status/1799034194292875298″,”isThirdPartyTracking”:false,”html”:”A dereliction of duty. pic.twitter.com/jx7IIgR7gN
— Liberal Democrats (@LibDems) June 7, 2024nn”}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1717763388000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”13.29 BST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1717763967000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”13.39 BST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1717763967000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”13.39 BST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”13.39″,”title”:”Cameron: ‘not surprising’ Sunak left D-day events early as ‘we are in the middle of an election campaign'”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Fri 7 Jun 2024 17.29 BST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Fri 7 Jun 2024 08.14 BST”},{“id”:”6662f45b8f0872aaf435c484″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has spoken to Sky News about the row over Rishi Sunak’s early departure from D-day commemoration events in Normandy, saying Sunak was not “a patriotic leader of the Conservative party.”
“,”elementId”:”678c0408-eef1-4819-9066-dc8cb982d253″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”He told viewers:
“,”elementId”:”a21f312e-5c4b-4737-821b-3d809b65a798″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”n This was the last time ever there’ll be a gathering of veterans on parade in Normandy, and if he’s not prepared to go to the international commemoration with the heads of so many different countries, overlooking a beach [on] which our American allies lost thousands of men, that says a lot about him.
n He is completely disconnected from the centre of this country and he’s proved to me that he basically is not a patriotic leader of the Conservative party.
n”,”elementId”:”a0bc0f49-4167-469d-914c-5f4ce04e6165″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”Farage was in Normandy himself yesterday, “in a personal capacity” he posted to social media. In another message earlier today Farage said “I was honoured to help raise £100,000 for the Taxi charity to send veterans back to Normandy. It was a pleasure to meet them at the various events. Rishi Sunak could not even be bothered to attend the international event above Omaha Beach. Who really believes in our people, him or me?”
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of Reform UK Nigel Farage has his picture taken on Gold Beach in Arromanches in Normandy yesterday.”,”caption”:”Leader of Reform UK Nigel Farage has his picture taken on Gold Beach in Arromanches in Normandy yesterday.”,”credit”:”Photograph: Aaron Chown/PA”}}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1717761115000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”12.51 BST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1717766016000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”14.13 BST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1717761701000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”13.01 BST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”13.01″,”title”:”Sunak’s D-day decision shows ‘completely disconnected’ from centre of Britain and ‘not a patriotic leader’, says Farage”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Fri 7 Jun 2024 17.29 BST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Fri 7 Jun 2024 08.14 BST”},{“id”:”6662ea038f085d7b42037b4d”,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”Asked directly by the media “Did you or anyone around you ever consider skipping the events” in Normandy.
“,”elementId”:”524e72a1-4720-4128-9b00-6b5dc4848851″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”Sunak said “That’s simply not right. The itinerary for these events was set weeks ago, before the general election campaign.”
“,”elementId”:”76a8fda9-6d52-4bdb-b159-3fd85ee3509c”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”He told Sky News “I stuck to the intinerary.”
“,”elementId”:”741aac08-cbd1-47e7-b149-a76579a9b570″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:true,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1717758467000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”12.07 BST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1717758634000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”12.10 BST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1717758635000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”12.10 BST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”12.10″,”title”:”Sunak denies there was any plan for him not to attend D-day events”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Fri 7 Jun 2024 17.29 BST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Fri 7 Jun 2024 08.14 BST”},{“id”:”6662e7818f0872aaf435c38a”,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”Rishi Sunak has said that D-day commemoration events should not be “politicised” after he faced a barrage of criticism for leaving the 80th anniversary commemorations in Normandy yesterday.
“,”elementId”:”7b0cba60-e22d-4ce3-ae32-ba3618ae7870″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”Speaking to broadcasters while out campaigning in the south-west of England he said:
“,”elementId”:”9e38bc9d-d8a2-41e7-a46f-6a3dcc360864″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”n The itinerary for these events was set weeks ago before the start of the general election campaign, and having participated in all the British events with British veterans, I returned home before the international leaders event later in the day. On reflection, that was a mistake and I apologise.
n I think it’s important though, given the enormity of the sacrifice made, that we don’t politicise this. The focus should rightly be on the veterans who gave so much.
n I had the honour and privilege of speaking to many of them and their families, hearing their stories, expressing my gratitude, personally to them.
n But I’m someone who will always admit when I’ve made a mistake and that’s what you’ll always get from me.
n”,”elementId”:”92425dcc-e749-4fef-a6c6-4589d379e9dc”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”A Downing Street spokesperson earlier denied reports that Sunak had not been intending to attend at all, saying “The prime minister was always scheduled to attend D-day commemorations, including the UK national commemoration event in Normandy, and it is incorrect to suggest otherwise.”
“,”elementId”:”ff97ab47-9a87-42b0-b6f7-12b55117f53e”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”Sunak himself also denied the reports.
“,”elementId”:”b3170992-7d2a-42d4-ba19-cb0d50645844″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1717757825000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”11.57 BST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1717766135000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”14.15 BST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1717758105000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”12.01 BST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”12.01″,”title”:”Sunak says his D-day error should not be ‘politicised’ after he apologises for leaving commemoration early”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Fri 7 Jun 2024 17.29 BST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Fri 7 Jun 2024 08.14 BST”},{“id”:”6662e06f8f0872aaf435c301″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”Here are a few more words from Keir Starmer about his attendance at D-day commemoration events in France yesterday, in which he appeared to question Rishi Sunak’s character and understanding of duty as prime minister. He said there was “not a discussion” about whether he would attend.
“,”elementId”:”abea6ae5-1eec-4748-bb05-2deb48cf0f38″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”Starmer said:
“,”elementId”:”7982caee-f08f-4f98-a21a-7d85331d61df”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”n And this election is about character, who you have in your mind’s eye when you make decisions.
n And for me there was only one place I was going to be, which is there to pay my respects to the veterans.
n And to say thank you to them on behalf of all of us, including my young children who, as I said to many of the veterans, were pretty carefree yesterday going to school. But that was down to their sacrifice, and the sacrifice particularly of those colleagues of theirs who didn’t make it back.
n I made a choice yesterday about what I would do as leader of the Labour party and as a candidate to be prime minister and I knew I should be there. This was not a discussion.
n It was my duty to be there, it was my privilege to be there.
n Privilege is a word that is probably overused in politics but I felt privileged to be able to be with veterans who had fought on D-day against the odds to liberate Europe and to allow me to grow up in peace and freedom and democracy.
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leader Keir Starmer meets RAF D-day veteran Bernard Morgan, 100, at a lunch in Normandy, yesterday.”,”caption”:”Labour leader Keir Starmer meets RAF D-day veteran Bernard Morgan, 100, at a lunch in Normandy, yesterday.”,”credit”:”Photograph: Gareth Fuller/PA”}}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1717756015000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”11.26 BST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1717756446000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”11.34 BST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1717756447000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”11.34 BST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”11.34″,”title”:”Starmer: election is about ‘character’ and ‘it was my duty’ to be at D-day events”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Fri 7 Jun 2024 17.29 BST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Fri 7 Jun 2024 08.14 BST”},{“id”:”6662d6ae8f085d7b420379e3″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”Phillip Inman is economics editor of the Observer and an economics writer 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“,”elementId”:”31ea7220-6352-4676-a9dd-4de489a35568″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”Somewhat contrary to claims earlier in the week by the former Reform UK leader Richard Tice that 2024 was going to be “the immigration election”, polling by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) between 22 May to 2 June shows that adults in England, Wales and Scotland are less concerned about immigration than they were last year.
“,”elementId”:”d943abb4-5695-412a-a9c7-83246a694435″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”The ONS said the most commonly reported issue was the cost of living (87%) and the NHS (85%), followed by the economy (68%), crime (60%), housing (57%), and climate change and the environment (56%).
“,”elementId”:”1e5bacd5-73c5-4ad6-8cde-b2bee61dd059″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”In a blow to the Reform UK party, the subject was a concern for 52% of people polled, which compares with a 54% level in the polling conducted just over six months ago, between 15 and 22 of November last year.
“,”elementId”:”3e399b35-e799-48a3-94bf-d2124e5e0c51″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”The ONS said lower order issues facing Britain acccording to the poll were international conflict (48%) and education (46%).
“,”elementId”:”07ce6554-0b14-413f-ba0c-a5dd4caffcd7″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”More than half of those polled said their cost of living had increased over the last month. The ONS said people reported being hit by higher food shopping bills (91%), fuel (58%) or their gas and electricity bills (50%).
“,”elementId”:”9b2bc7c6-ef8c-477e-a0aa-91488e5ca1e8″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1717753518000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”10.45 BST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1717756234000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”11.30 BST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1717756234000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”11.30 BST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”11.30″,”title”:”ONS figures suggest cost of living crisis and NHS are the most pressing issues for voters”,”contributors”:[{“name”:”Phillip Inman”,”imageUrl”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/static/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/contributor/2007/09/28/phillip_inman_140x140.jpg?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=ff3dad18a53e7f4c53a0f9e4e844fabf”}],”primaryDateLine”:”Fri 7 Jun 2024 17.29 BST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Fri 7 Jun 2024 08.14 BST”},{“id”:”6662def18f0872aaf435c2ed”,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”Scotland’s first minister John Swinney has urged Scotland to vote for “a future made in Scotland, for Scotland”, saying that the campaign is “all over” for the Conservatives, but cautioning that Labour in Westminster would deliver “Tory spending cuts” for his country.
“,”elementId”:”a5b1ce67-f7b7-40ac-ac9e-c58b00e590f5″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”Swinney told supporters in Glasgow:
“,”elementId”:”c6b8f0a3-0b9e-4411-9441-2d9ec2debbaf”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”n It is becoming ever more clear that it’s over for the Conservative Party. And if it wasn’t all over before the prime minister’s foolish decision to turn his back on the D-day commemorations and return home to perpetuate the baseless claim he made on Tuesday in the television debate, it certainly is over now.
n So in this election, people in Scotland have got to think long and hard about whether they want to vote for a Labour party that will deliver Tory spending cuts, or do they want to vote for the Scottish National party that will invest in the future of Scotland and put Scotland’s interests first?
n That is the appeal I make to people in Scotland today. This is our chance. To vote SNP to put Scotland’s interests and Scotland’s national health service first. This is an opportunity for people to vote SNP for a future made in Scotland, for Scotland.
n”,”elementId”:”a7415b61-7ba7-4e17-a69d-3cf679d0e87c”}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1717755633000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”11.20 BST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1717755943000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”11.25 BST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1717755944000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”11.25 BST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”11.25″,”title”:”Swinney: ‘foolish’ D-day decision shows election ‘all over’ for Tories, but warns Labour will deliver ‘Tory spending cuts'”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Fri 7 Jun 2024 17.29 BST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Fri 7 Jun 2024 08.14 BST”},{“id”:”6662dad08f0872aaf435c2ab”,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”Labour leader Keir Starmer has told broadcasters “there was nowhere else I was going to be” other than at D-day commemoration events, and that the prime minister will have to “answer for his own actions.”
“,”elementId”:”feb336df-3594-49de-98c5-7442bada6be4″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”During a visit in Greater London on Friday, the Labour leader said:
“,”elementId”:”9250f136-1d2d-4714-a573-0bc58a1ff3d4″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”n Rishi Sunak will have to answer for his choice. For me there was only one choice, which was to be there, to pay my respects, to say thank you and to have the opportunity to speak to those veterans.
n”,”elementId”:”ebfc5f1a-e72d-41b5-a1e6-e46b277f04d0″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”Asked whether the prime minister’s apology draws a line under the row, Starmer said: “He has to answer for his own actions, for me there was nowhere else I was going to be.”
“,”elementId”:”cc355fbf-4003-4979-9941-310b287edb71″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”Sunak has apologised for leaving D-day anniversary events early to take part in a TV interview, admitting it was “a mistake not to stay in France longer”. Foreign secretary David Cameron to take his place in the late afternoon ceremony at Omaha beach on Thursday.
“,”elementId”:”3646303e-1dc4-4976-b944-d66def1519c4″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey has said Sunak brought “shame” on the office of prime minister.
“,”elementId”:”8ff968ec-9dcb-4841-b4cb-ddac0c0d2d42″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”Shadow defence secretary John Healey has written to defence secretary Grant Shapps with a specific set of questions including “Did the prime minister himself suggest that this was not the best use of his time? If not the prime minister, who did?” and also pointed out that “Given that the prime minister has been campaigning on the idea young people should complete a year’s national service, what does it say that he appears to have been unable to complete a single afternoon of it?”
“,”elementId”:”2394561d-379c-43e0-90fb-c0b3c7fb723d”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”Sunak’s party appear to being squeezed from the right by Reform UK in polling, and the recently installed Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said “Patriotic people who love their country should not vote for [Sunak].”
“,”elementId”:”225252fb-88e7-46de-b0de-24e482971a00″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”Veterans minister Johnny Mercer, however, has said he has found “faux outrage” from people he claimed were preventing veterans’ affairs from being improved “nauseating”.
“,”elementId”:”1599f12b-2248-44b1-bd9b-cd155a3c345a”}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1717754576000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”11.02 BST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1717756312000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”11.31 BST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1717755163000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”11.12 BST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”11.12″,”title”:”Starmer: Sunak will have to ‘answer for his choice’ over D-day absence”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Fri 7 Jun 2024 17.29 BST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Fri 7 Jun 2024 08.14 BST”},{“id”:”6662d14b8f085d7b420379a7″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”Senior members of the Labour team are expected to spend much of the day holed up to iron out the party’s draft manifesto ahead of publication expected next week, but for public consumption today they have been promoting their “freedom to buy” housing policy.
“,”elementId”:”dbf4d5b1-8b73-46be-898a-80df10da02a6″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TweetBlockElement”,”source”:”Twitter”,”id”:”1799008868263203046″,”elementId”:”a94cd119-5522-4caa-bf08-23ec38902aa6″,”hasMedia”:false,”role”:”inline”,”url”:”https://x.com/elenicourea/status/1799008868263203046″,”isThirdPartyTracking”:false,”html”:”Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner speak to a first-time buyer in north London as they launch their “freedom to buy” housing policy pic.twitter.com/hE6W4ug0WW
— Eleni Courea (@elenicourea) June 7, 2024nn”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”As my colleague Jane Croft has written:
“,”elementId”:”f8ae5db4-c449-46e3-a4da-bf81d393c875″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”n Labour has said that, if it wins the general election, it will make permanent a mortgage guarantee scheme aimed at helping low-deposit mortgages become available for first-time buyers.
n The temporary scheme, which involves the government acting as a guarantor for part of a home loan, was introduced by the Conservatives in 2021 and was extended until July next year by the chancellor, Jeremy Hunt. It is aimed at encouraging lenders to offer low-deposit deals to first-time buyers.
n Labour believes its plan, which will be rebranded “Freedom to buy”, will help 80,000 young people buy their own homes over the next five years.
n”,”elementId”:”76e8f142-2c25-4104-be6f-df9ff035bebd”}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1717752139000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”10.22 BST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1717752344000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”10.25 BST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1717752344000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”10.25 BST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”10.25″,”title”:”Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner launch Labour’s ‘freedom to buy’ housing policy”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Fri 7 Jun 2024 17.29 BST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Fri 7 Jun 2024 08.14 BST”},{“id”:”6662b9738f085d7b420378be”,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey said Rishi Sunak’s actions in leaving D-day commemorations in France early had brought shame to the office of prime minister.
“,”elementId”:”1ab44ea5-a2bf-4574-b7f8-cf25ab3ca684″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”PA Media report he said:
“,”elementId”:”7b286ee7-bb27-4089-8de4-32295549ad55″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”n One of the greatest privileges of the office of prime minister is to be there to honour those who served, yet Rishi Sunak abandoned them on the beaches of Normandy.
n He has brought shame to that office and let down our country.
n 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.
n”,”elementId”:”a089794e-e424-4f2e-9a63-1afc0b6f8de4″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”Sunak has apologised, saying “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.”
“,”elementId”:”4c0fdb25-765a-45de-85e1-bf53e3786a28″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1717746035000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”08.40 BST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1717746315000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”08.45 BST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1717746315000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”08.45 BST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”08.45″,”title”:”Ed Davey: Sunak ‘abandoned’ veterans, ‘let down our country’, and has ‘brought shame’ to office of PM”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Fri 7 Jun 2024 17.29 BST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Fri 7 Jun 2024 08.14 BST”},{“id”:”6662ae4b8f0872aaf435c0a4″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”Labour’s housing spokesman Matthew Pennycook said it was “embarrassing” that the prime minister had left Normandy early to make an electioneering appearance in which he chose to “double down on a proven lie”.
“,”elementId”:”6e2e6a93-4963-42a7-b652-2d25fdd217d7″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”Speaking on Sky News, Pennycook said:
“,”elementId”:”45376a05-80ec-485f-808d-c2fa87b622a5″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”n I’m glad he’s apologised because it is absolutely a mistake. And it’s not just the fact that the prime minister left those D-day commemoration services – perhaps the last commemoration services for many of the veterans who attended, I mean, bear that in mind.
n But the reason why he left those services? He left, let’s be clear, to come back and pre-record an interview where he doubles down on a proven lie about the Labour party’s intentions if it forms the next government.
n I think it’s embarrassing.
n I think it’s a shameful dereliction of duty.
n He’s right to apologise, but the British public should ask themselves serious questions about a man who decides to make that decision in the first place.
n”,”elementId”:”fb94f63b-dc65-4f0f-beab-44511acd18f5″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”The prime minister attended an event at Ver-sur-Mer in northern France, which was also attended by King Charles and Queen Camilla, and the French president, Emmanuel Macron. But he did not attend the late afternoon ceremony at Omaha beach, in Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer, and instead returned to the UK. Paul Brand, ITV’s UK editor, said the prime minister returned from Normandy to do the interview.
“,”elementId”:”66240737-1fc2-40e7-9093-9c0ed1d537d2″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”Asked on Sky News why he thought the prime minister had done that, Labour’s Pennycook said:
“,”elementId”:”e8231772-f1a4-4853-8bac-caf5b286ff05″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”n You’d have to ask him. I have absolutely no idea, on such an important service. why the prime minister felt that it was appropriate to leave partway through that service.
n And I’m glad Keir Starmer, Labour leader, stayed at that service. It was an important chance not only to meet veterans but to meet international leaders like president Macron, [and Ukraine’s] president Zelenskiy.
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president Zelenskiy with Labour’s Keir Starmer.”,”caption”:”Ukraine’s president Zelenskiy with Labour’s Keir Starmer.”,”credit”:”Photograph: Benoît Tessier/Reuters”}}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1717744448000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”08.14 BST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1717748359000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”09.19 BST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1717744489000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”08.14 BST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”08.14″,”title”:”Labour: ’embarrassing’ Sunak left D-day ceremony early to ‘double down on a proven lie'”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Fri 7 Jun 2024 17.29 BST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Fri 7 Jun 2024 08.14 BST”},{“id”:”665f81e88f08e941a0538f82″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”Good morning. Welcome to our live coverage of the 2024 general election on a Friday which will see the third live TV debate of the week. After Scottish leaders debated on STV on Monday, and ITV hosted Rishi Sunak, Keir Starmer and those tax claims on Tuesday, Friday night is the BBC’s turn to host a seven-way debate. More on that in a minute. Here are your headlines …
“,”elementId”:”6e841c1b-00f5-4858-b7b7-a0b8acbdbcc9″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”n Rishi Sunak has apologised for leaving the D-day anniversary commemorations in Normandy to attend an ITV interview
n The Institute for Government has warned that incoming ministers will find public services on the ‘brink of collapse’
n Labour has vowed to investigate the carers’ scandal
n”,”elementId”:”80087baf-41a6-4847-94b2-6bed1ea9baa3″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”Senior Conservatives have been fond of the phrase “as sure as night follows day” on the campaign trail in regard to Labour governments putting taxes up. On this blog you’ve got night following day in the shape of Andrew Sparrow being here later on to cover the debate, but Martin Belam here to start. Do drop me a line on [email protected] if you need to get in touch – I find it especially useful if you are pointing out my typos or errors or suggesting omissions.
“,”elementId”:”18379b37-bd37-472f-992a-99b775d2acc1″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:false,”summary”:true},”blockCreatedOn”:1717744448000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”08.14 BST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1717744261000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”08.11 BST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1717744448000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”08.14 BST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”08.14″,”title”:”Welcome and opening summary …”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Fri 7 Jun 2024 17.29 BST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Fri 7 Jun 2024 08.14 BST”},{“id”:”6662adec8f085d7b42037841″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”Rishi Sunak has issued an apology on social media for not staying longer at D-day events in France yesterday.
“,”elementId”:”cdda6d94-123b-48a8-b7dd-6492d0f71883″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”The prime minister, having left Normandy in order to instead pre-record an election interview with ITV, said “for the commemorations to be overshadowed by politics”.
“,”elementId”:”50a406b5-b0b9-49b0-beef-77ee8d87b4ee”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”He posted:
“,”elementId”:”990847dd-f584-42d9-9635-303710faeb7e”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”n 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.
n 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.
n 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.
n 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.
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Secretary David Cameron, French president Emmanuel Macron, German chancellor Olaf Scholz and US President Joe Biden at Omaha Beach yesterday.”,”caption”:”Foreign secretary David Cameron, French president Emmanuel Macron, German chancellor Olaf Scholz and US President Joe Biden at Omaha Beach yesterday.”,”credit”:”Photograph: Benoît Tessier/Reuters”}},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement”,”prefix”:”Related: “,”text”:”Rishi Sunak says sorry for leaving D-day event early to record TV interview”,”elementId”:”c46705c4-bc07-419f-b709-7c4697c08d18″,”role”:”thumbnail”,”url”:”https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/jun/07/rishi-sunak-says-sorry-for-leaving-d-day-event-early-to-record-tv-interview”}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1717744448000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”08.14 BST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1717744271000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”08.11 BST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1717744448000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”08.14 BST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”08.14″,”title”:”Sunak issues apology over D-day ceremony absence”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Fri 7 Jun 2024 17.29 BST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Fri 7 Jun 2024 08.14 BST”}],”filterKeyEvents”:false,”id”:”key-events-carousel-mobile”,”absoluteServerTimes”:false}”>Key events
Two thirds of Britons think it was unacceptable for Sunak to leave D-day celebrations early, poll suggestsTwo thirds of Britons think it was unacceptable for Rishi Sunak to leave the international D-day celebrations early to do an election interview, according to snap polling by YouGov. Some 43% said this was completely unacceptable, and 22% said this was somewhat unacceptable. Only 21% of people said what Sunak did was acceptable.
Outgoing Tory MP Jo Gideon criticises culture of party, saying it has allowed ‘discrimination, bullying, and unethical practices to fester’Jo Gideon, who was the Tory MP for Stoke-on-Trent Central in the last parliament but who is standing down, has posted a long thread on X criticising the internal culture of the Conservative party, and the way MPs and activists are treated by CCHQ. She is particularly angry about the way election candidates have been selected at short notice in the past two weeks, but her complaints go well beyond that.
She says she is speaking out because she wants to “expose the unethical practices that have become pervasive within the party”.
The thread starts here.
📢 Statement – Please see all tweets in this chain 📢
When I announced last year that I was not seeking re-election in Stoke Central, journalists speculated that I had been promised a safe seat elsewhere and was on a chicken run. Nothing could have been further from the truth. pic.twitter.com/pY50P9wZCm
— Jo Gideon (@jogideon) June 7, 2024 📢 Statement – Please see all tweets in this chain 📢
When I announced last year that I was not seeking re-election in Stoke Central, journalists speculated that I had been promised a safe seat elsewhere and was on a chicken run. Nothing could have been further from the truth.
And here are some of her key points.
Now, loyal and hardworking MPs face deselection, intimidation, and a dismissive attitude when raising serious complaints related to discrimination based on age, gender, and ill health.
It has become glaringly apparent that rules are applied and disapplied at a whim to benefit a chosen few.
If the Conservative Party finds itself in opposition, I hope they will use the opportunity to take a long, hard look at how they have allowed discrimination, bullying, and unethical practices to fester.
Gideon does not give details of the incidents she found objectionable, but, when she spoke about people being deselected on the grounds of health, David Duguid may have been one of the people she was thinking of. (See 10.09am.)
Ian Acheson, a Tory former prison governor who led a review of extremism in prisons for the government, has resigned from the Conservative party over the D-day commemoration snub, the Daily Telegraph reports. The Telegraph quotes from Acheson’s resignation letter, in which he says:
It was an act of either colossal stupidity or cynical calculation.
Either way, it revealed to me that while I still embrace a conservative philosophy, I am no longer willing to have it outsourced to a bunch of mendacious, incompetent and disreputable clowns.
Country before party. Always.
Acheson posted this on X.
This won’t matter to anyone except me. But I need to say it anyway. Here is the reason I’ve resigned from the Conservatives today.
Country before party. Always. pic.twitter.com/zr5y8OWAMP
— Ian Acheson 🇬🇧🇮🇪 (@NotThatBigIan) June 7, 2024 More in Common has released some new polling this afternoon. It has Labour on a 21-point lead, which is its highest lead with More in Common since the campaign started, although the increase is within the margin of error.
Luke Tryl, director of More in Common, says that there are some hints that, with people responding since the D-day snub row hit the news, the Labour lead is up. But he says he does not have enough data to report that with confidence.
Over 1000 of the sample are from today after the news of the PM’s decision to leave the D-Day celebrations early had been reported. While the weighting efficiency isn’t such I’d be happy reporting separate VIs the Labour lead today was somewhat higher than yesterday.
— Luke Tryl (@LukeTryl) June 7, 2024 Over 1000 of the sample are from today after the news of the PM’s decision to leave the D-Day celebrations early had been reported. While the weighting efficiency isn’t such I’d be happy reporting separate VIs the Labour lead today was somewhat higher than yesterday.
David Davis, the former Brexit secretary, told Times Radio that he thought veterans offended by Rishi Sunak missing the international D-day commemoration event were “sensible” people who would “want to move on in due course”.
A former SAS reservist, Davis also said that none of his military veteran friends had contacted him to complain about what happened.
But Robert Shrimsley from the FT says he is being told campaigners are already hearing voters bring this issue up on the doorsteps.
Hearing consistently now that the D-Day error has absolutely cut through to voters and is already being brought up frequently on doorsteps
— robert shrimsley (@robertshrimsley) June 7, 2024 Hearing consistently now that the D-Day error has absolutely cut through to voters and is already being brought up frequently on doorsteps
And Sam Freedman, who writes what he says is the UK’s most popular Substack politics blog, says polling companies they are already seeing an impact in the polling they are doing today.
And I’m hearing from today’s samples from several pollsters that it’s already visible in the data.
The deadline for the delivery of nomination papers for people wanting to be a candidate in the general election passed a few minutes ago, at 4pm. And the deadline for withdrawing nominations also passed at 4pm.
The Electoral Commission has full details of all the election deadlines here.
Union asks Tories and Labour to agree to stop asking civil servants to cost opposition policiesEarlier this week Gus O’Donnell, the former cabinet secretary, said the rule allowing ministers to ask civil servants to cost opposition policies should be scrapped. The FDA, the union that represents senior civil servants, is now formally proposing this in letters sent to Rishi Sunak and to Keir Starmer.
Dave Penman, the FDA general secretary, said:
The civil service is not independent. It offers impartial advice but it loyally serves the government of the day, no matter the colour.
That makes this whole practice of using the civil service to cost opposition policies highly questionable; they will never be ‘independent’ calculations as they’re based on politically partial assumptions and completed at the direction of ministers. Dragging civil servants into political mudslinging during an election campaign undermines the impartiality of the civil service at a crucial time when they may be preparing to support a change of government.
Earlier this week Emily Thornberry, the shadow attorney general, told the BBC earlier this week that she personally agreed with a ban on civil servants costing opposition policies, but it is understood this is not Labour’s official position.
Here is Rishi Sunak looking at a laptop on a visit to Great Oldbury Primary Academy in Stonehouse this afternoon. We hope, for his sake, he’s not looking at Twitter …
Rishi Sunak during a visit to Great Oldbury Primary Academy in Stonehouse today. Photograph: Jacob King/PAWho gets to be the official opposition if two biggest losing parties have same number of MPs?Yesterday a reader asked (I paraphrase – I can’t find the original):
Who gets to be the official opposition party if the two biggest losting parties both have the same number of MPs?
This question is probably prompted by the Electoral Calculus predictive polling model suggesting that the Conservatives are on course to get just 75 seats, and the Liberal Democrats 61. Some other MRP polls suggest the Tories will do better. The Survation MRP suggests they will get 71 seats, but it has the Lib Dems on 43 seats. Electoral Calculus seems to be the model implying the Lib Dems have the best chance of coming neck and neck with the Tories.
And if they were tied, who would be the official opposition?
This is quite an important question because, in the House of Commons, the official opposition gets a whole series of perks and privileges not available to the smaller opposition parties. Some of them are explained here, in Erskine May. For example, only leader of the opposition gets to put six questions to the PM at PMQs, and only the official opposition can table a motion of no confidence in the government that will prioritised for debate. At Holyrood and in the Senedd the biggest opposition party does not get privileged to the same extent.
There is no precedent for two parties being tied for the official opposition slot. And the House of Commons press office was unable to tell me what would happen in these circumstances.
But a source said there is a clue in the Ministerial and other Salaries Act 1975, which implies it would be up to the speaker to decide. The Act says:
If any doubt arises as to which is or was at any material time the party in opposition to Her Majesty’s Government having the greatest numerical strength in the House of Commons, or as to who is or was at any material time the leader in that House of such a party, the question shall be decided for the purposes of this Act by the speaker of the House of Commons, and his decision, certified in writing under his hand, shall be final and conclusive.
Perhaps the speaker would decide to award official opposition party status to the party with the most votes. Alternatively, they could try to opt for some sort of sharing arrangement.
The first big speech given by Keir Starmer in the election campaign had the title “Country first, party second”. He was talking about Labour, and making a contrast with Rishi Sunak, who he claimed did not put the national interest first. Jonathan Ashworth, the shadow Cabinet Office minister, has just been on Sky News to attack Sunak over the D-day snub and he argued that this incident proved Starmer’s point. Ashworth said:
My reaction was one a shock.
There can be nothing more important for the prime minister of our great country to truly honour the fallen, to pay tribute to those who served and fought for our freedoms and, indeed, to pay tribute to those who serve today.
And I think this tells you something about Rishi Sunak. This disrespect is shocking, but I think he reveals something unbecoming about both his judgement and his character.
And I think people will be to today asking, what type of person thinks it’s more important to rush away from an event like this, to go and do a interview to try and score political points to save his own skin, than truly honour the fallen?
I think it shows you ultimately that Rishi Sunak will put political party ahead of country.
That said, some journalists are arguing that Labour don’t need to intervene in this story because it is damaging enough anyway. This is from Robert Shrimsley, the FT’s chief political commentator, responding to an intervention from shadow defence secretary John Healey earlier. (See 10.58am.)
Labour should stay out of this one. The media will do all their work for them on this. Jumping in is the wrong look look when you are saying this was above politics. t.co/T4f7mi2tMA
— robert shrimsley (@robertshrimsley) June 7, 2024 Labour should stay out of this one. The media will do all their work for them on this. Jumping in is the wrong look look when you are saying this was above politics.
Jonathan Ashworth Photograph: Sky News