Keir says ‘Rishi will have to answer for actions’ after PM’s apology for jetting home from D-Day events early

SIR Keir Starmer has slammed Rishi Sunak for leaving a D-Day commemoration event early after the PM issued a grovelling apology.

The Labour chief said the PM would "have to answer his own actions as even the Tory veterans' minister branded it a "significant mistake"

The PM admitted it was a "mistake" to leave early after speaking to veterans in Normandy yesterday morning.

Mr Sunak had taken part in a separate ceremony to mark the British contribution earlier on Thursday, where he told the few surviving troops: "We owe you everything".

But this morning the PM admitted: "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."

Speaking earlier today he added: “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.

“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."

Speaking at a campaign stop in Brent Cross, North London, Starmer said: “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.

“(The PM) has to answer his own actions, but, you know, those veterans have made the most incredible effort to be there.

“For most of them, it was physically difficult to get there... it had taken them days to get there.

“Emotionally it was difficult for some of them because they hadn't been back.

"I was really struck by the fact that, on the King’s arrival, many of them in their wheelchairs, you could see the effort they were putting in to try to get out of their wheelchairs and up to the King, and most of them did, even for a few minutes, a few seconds, because it was so hard.

“And obviously they will still be making their way back.

“I thought it was really important for me to be there, to pay my respects to them and those that didn't return, and actually to say thank you.

“Now, Rishi Sunak will have to answer his own actions. For me, there was nowhere else I was going to be.”

Last night ITV presenter Paul Brand revealed the PM had returned to the UK for an interview on the station’s Tonight programme.

Brand told ITV News at Ten: “Today was the slot we were offered ... We don’t know why.”

The PM gave wannabe Sir Keir Starmer a chance to mingle with more than 25 heads of state instead.

These included France's Emmanuel Macron and US President Joe Biden, while the Prince of Wales, Defence Secretary Grant Shapps and Foreign Secretary David Cameron represented the UK.

The Labour chief was also snapped greeting heroic Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage also went to Normandy for the memorial event and was snapped driving a World War Two US Jeep.

He told The Sun this morning: “I was honoured to help raise £100,000 for the London taxi charity to send veterans to Normandy.

“It was a pleasure to meet them at the various events.

“Rishi Sunak could not be bothered to attend the international event above Omaha Beach.

“Who really believes in our people, him or me?”

Pressed this morning on the PM's absence, Education Minister David Johnson told BBC Radio 4: "The Prime Minister was in Normandy yesterday.

“As you rightly introduced me I am the junior minister in the Department for Education so I don’t know exactly where the PM was.

“I don’t know precisely where he was. I know he was there earlier that day.

“I am not party to his diary and exactly where he went.

"I know he was there for the commemorations yesterday and he was there in Portsmouth on Wednesday.

“This is a really important moment to recognise the contribution of those veterans.”

Meanwhile, Labour leader Sir Keir said ahead of the service: "It is a privilege to stand with surviving D-Day veterans in Normandy today as we mark this historic anniversary.

"We will commemorate their courage, we will honour their fallen comrades and we will ensure that their story is never forgotten."