Election latest: 'They probably should have seen this coming' - Rishi Sunak apologises for leaving D-Day commemorations early (2024)

Sky News' deputy political editor Sam Coates and Politico's Jack Blanchard with their guide to the election day ahead.

This is day 16 of the campaign. Jack and Sam discuss the Labour party meeting to agree on their manifesto, Rishi Sunak facing criticism over missing a D-Day commemoration with world leaders yesterday, and the next TV debate with seven parties going at each other.

Email Jack and Sam: jackandsam@sky.uk

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Prime Minister Rishi Sunak may have wanted to miss the D-Day commemorations in Normandy yesterday altogether, a source hastold Sky News.

Mr Sunak is under fire after leaving the ceremony early to record a TV interview back in the UK.

He has issued an apology, describing it as a "mistake".

Sources close to the prime minister say that it is absolutely incorrect that Mr Sunak was considering not going at all.

However, Sky political correspondent Mhari Aurorasays the fact this is being spoken about suggests there was some "back and forth" on his attendance.

Labour's Harriet Harman has had a 42-year Commons career, serving in many government roles and also on various select committees.

Having said she is not contesting a seat this time around, it is not surprising she now has her eyes on the ermined benches of the House of Lords.

Speaking to the Electoral Dysfunction podcast with Beth Rigby and Ruth Davidson, they were joking about Ms Harman going into the upper chamber.

"I hope so," she replied.

Ms Davidson - who is herself in the Lords - says that Ms Harman would be "such an addition" to the upper chamber.

But Ms Harman says it's important "not to count our chickens before they hatch".

She would not be drawn on what title she would take - pointing out there was already a Lord of Peckham (where her parliamentary seat was).

And it was also akin to"measuring up the curtains for Downing Street when they haven't won the election".

"I've got to be, like, coyly, modestly waiting for that moment if it comes - the dissolution honours, as it's called," she said.

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Away from the furore over the prime minister leaving D-Day commemorations early yesterday, the Conservatives are unveiling a tax cut pledge for families.

Speaking on Sky News a short time ago, a Conservative minister said the promise, which would raise the threshold for when families have to pay a levy on their child benefit, marks a "significant change" for working families.

David Johnston, parliamentary under-secretary of state for children, families and wellbeing, said it will mean around 700,000 working families will receive a tax cut of about £1,500.

The current system means if either parents or a parent's partner earns more than £60,000, they begin paying the high income child benefittax charge, and lose the benefit altogether when a salary hits £80,000.

But if the Tories win the election on 4 July, they have promised to increase the threshold to £120,000 before any tax is paid, and to £160,000 before the benefit is withdrawn, as well as base it on a household income, rather than an individual.

Labour has criticised the move, calling it "another chaotic scattergun announcement from Rishi Sunak, adding to his list of desperate and unfunded policies that he knows can't be delivered".

You can read more on the tax cut promise here:

Jonathan Ashworth, Labour's shadow paymaster general, has dubbed the prime minister "out of touch" over his decision to leave yesterday's D-Day commemorations early.

"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 prime minister."

An apology from the prime minister for leaving D-Day commemorations early yesterday is designed to quell the growing furore, Sky's political correspondent Rob Powell says.

He says there will have been a strategic calculation in the Tory camp to apologise quickly, before Rishi Sunak embarks on two days of campaigning.

The hope will be that may turn what might have been a three-day story into a story which may dominate coverage today, but eventually go away.

He says the danger was that it would end up on the front pages tomorrow morning, with more reaction from the military or veterans.

Rob says that "frankly, they probably should have seen this coming".

"This shows that there is still ample room for mistakes to be made," he says.

Writing on X, Mr Sunak admitted leaving the commemorations early was a "mistake" (see post at 7.49am).

Rishi Sunak was right to apologise for leaving D-Day commemorations early yesterday, the shadow housing minister has said.

Matthew Pennycook dubbed the decision to leave France "embarrassing" and a "dereliction of duty".

"I'm glad he's apologised, because it was absolutely a mistake," he told Sky News.

"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 - but the reason why he left those services... [was] to come back [to the UK] and pre-record an interview where he doubled down on a proven lie about the Labour Party's intentions if it forms the next government," he added.

He also pointed out that Sir Keir Starmer stayed at the service, while Mr Sunak returned to the UK to speak with ITV.

"I think it's embarrassing. I think it's a shameful dereliction of duty - he's right to apologise."

Lib Dem leader Ed Davey has joined the growing criticism of the prime minister after he left D-Day commemorations early yesterday, accusing him of abandoning veterans "on the beaches".

"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," Mr Davey wrote on X.

"It is a total dereliction of duty and shows why this Conservative government just has to go."

A short time ago, the prime minister apologised for leaving the commemorations, admitting it was a "mistake" (see previous post).

The prime minister has apologised for leaving D-Day commemorations in Normandy yesterday early, admitting it was a "mistake".

The prime minister has faced criticism for leaving the commemorations, with Labour calling it a "dereliction of duty" (see previous post).

"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," Mr Sunak wrote on X.

"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."

The prime minister has a "proud record" of supporting veterans, a minister has told Sky News as Rishi Sunak faces accusations from Labour of "skipping" D-Day commemorations(see earlier post).

"I think the prime minister did demonstrate in being at the commemorations this week his commitment and this government's commitment to marking what is a very important moment in our history," David Johnston, parliamentary under-secretary of state for children, families and wellbeing, said.

"I think this government's commitment and the prime minister's commitment to veterans is clear."

While the prime minister was present for the initial parts of the commemoration in Normandy on the 80th anniversary of the landings yesterday, he was absent later on.

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps and Foreign Secretary Lord David Cameron took his place, with the latter pictured alongside leaders like Germany's Olaf Scholz, the US's Joe Biden and France's Emmanuel Macron.

Labour has accused Mr Sunak of a "dereliction of duty" after he returned to Britain before the ceremony was over, while his rival Sr Keir Starmer remained.

It later emerged Mr Sunak had given a TV interview about the election on the same day.

Shadow paymaster general Jonathan Ashworth said: "The prime minister skipping off early from D-Day commemorations to record a television interview where he once again lied through his teeth is both an embarrassment and a total dereliction of duty."

Conservative peer and former London mayoral candidate Lord Shaun Bailey has told GB News the prime minister's decision to leave early was a "mistake".