Labour: Vanity appearance on TV
Sharp criticism of Sunak after rapid departure from D-Day commemoration
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The British Prime Minister takes part in the D-Day celebrations, but not all the way through. He is represented at the main event by the Foreign Minister. A TV appearance at home is more important to him. In the face of massive criticism, he now says it was a mistake.
Around a month before the general election, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has come under fire for his early departure from the commemorations in France for the 80th anniversary of D-Day. Sunak apologized for this. After the British event at the celebrations ended on Thursday, he returned to the UK, Sunak wrote to X. “After careful consideration, it was a mistake not to stay in France longer – and I apologize for that.” Heads of state and government from around the world gathered in Normandy on Thursday to mark the anniversary of the Allied landings, a turning point in World War II.
Sunak, who is vying for re-election on July 4, spoke at a British-led event. His early departure meant he missed the main event on Omaha Beach, which was attended by US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, as well as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Sunak was represented by Foreign Secretary James Cameron. Sunak's main rival in the general election, Labour leader Keir Starmer, attended the event on Omaha Beach and was photographed meeting Zelensky. On X, he pledged continued support for Ukraine if he becomes the new British prime minister after the July 4 election. According to media reports, Sunak left France early to give an interview to a British television channel.
A spokesman for the opposition Labour Party criticised Sunak. “The D-Day commemorations were about remembering the bravery of all those who serve our country,” said Jonathan Ashworth. “By choosing to prioritise his own vanity performances on television over our veterans, Rishi Sunak has shown what is most important to him.” The leader of the Liberal Democrats, Ed Davey, accused Sunak of dereliction of duty. Sunak must fear for his re-election. According to polls, his Conservative Party is 20 percentage points behind Labour.
The Allied landing in Normandy on June 6, 1944 paved the way for the Allies' victory over Nazi Germany. More than 156,000 Allied soldiers landed, mostly by ship, others parachuted in – thus opening a new front against the German troops. Tens of thousands of soldiers were killed in the gigantic military operation and the weeks of fighting that followed.
