Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has come under fire after leaving the D-Day commemoration services early on Thursday to participate in an interview with ITV News. The move has sparked controversy and accusations of evading responsibility.
Sunak was initially present during the 80th-anniversary ceremonies honoring the historic landings. However, he was conspicuously absent later on, leaving Defence Secretary Grant Shapps and Foreign Secretary Lord David Cameron to take his place.
A Labour Party source expressed skepticism about Sunak’s motives, stating, “If the prime minister skipped this afternoon’s D-Day commemorations to convince people he’s not a liar, he should simply tell the truth.”
Jonathan Ashworth, Labour’s shadow paymaster general, condemned Sunak’s actions, telling Sky News, “The prime minister’s early departure from the D-Day commemorations to record a television interview, where he once again lied, is both embarrassing and a dereliction of duty. Our country deserves better than out-of-touch, desperate Rishi Sunak and his chaotic Tory Party.”
The accusation that Sunak was attempting to defend himself against allegations of dishonesty arose after ITV News tweeted a clip of an interview with him. Sunak faced allegations that he was lying about the Labour Party’s intention to raise taxes by £2,000 that the Conservatives believe Labour will implement over the next four years, amounting to £500 annually.. In response, the prime minister dismissed the claims as “desperate” and refused to accept that they were “dubious.”
ITV News journalist Paul Brand, who conducted the interview, later confirmed that it took place after Sunak returned from France. However, ITV did not choose the timing of the interview.
As criticism mounts, Sunak faces scrutiny over his priorities and commitment to honoring historical events while engaging in political discourse.
