Conservatives in Oxfordshire have hit out at the prime minister after he left a D-Day event early with one saying "there's no justification" and another adding "it should always be country first".
Rishi Sunak apologised for leaving the 80th anniversary events early in France yesterday in order to take part in a TV interview where he sat down with ITV on Thursday to defend claims he made about Sir Keir Starmer’s tax plans.
He had appeared in Normandy earlier in the day to pay tribute to veterans but returned to Britain before the ceremony was over, while his rival Sir Keir remained alongside Joe Biden, Emmanuel Macron and the Prince of Wales.
Conservative county councillor Liam Walker, who also took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to share his frustration, told us: "No apology can truly justify the Prime Minister leaving a D-Day event early and especially to just come back to do a TV interview.
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"Decisions like this matter and I feel this will be a moment talked about in British politics for many years to come and serves as a reminder that it should always be country first.
"Remembering the service and sacrifice of so many 80 years ago on that historic day should have been the only thing that mattered yesterday.
"I can only apologise to veterans in Oxfordshire and reassure them that we value what they’ve done for our country and the freedom of democracy around the world.”
Not all councillors shared Mr Walker's frustration however.
Conservative district councillor for Carterton South, Nick Leverton, who is an ex-serviceman said: "I think it's a very high level of hysteria.
"As an ex-soldier I did not feel at all offended or short-changed.
"I certainly think he's put enough of a shift in.
"My opinion is it's children in a school playground pointing a finger.
"We're forgetting the issue of the day.
"Perhaps Liam Walker is after the job."
On GB News today (June 7), children’s minister David Johnston, who is a Conservative Oxfordshire MP candidate for Wantage, rejected the suggestion it was a “bizarre choice”.
“I don’t accept that about the prime minister. He was at the commemorations in Portsmouth on Wednesday, he was in Normandy yesterday and he and this Government have done huge amounts to support our veterans,” Mr Johnston said.
But county councillor Ian Corkin said: "It's a terrible piece of judgment.
"I can't find a way of justifying leaving that event yesterday.
"Apologies are easy. What we do need in these difficult times are politicians who can demonstrate sound judgment and I just don't think that was there yesterday and I think the vast majority of people will be appalled by it.
"Particularly the generation that has been most loyal to the party.
"It often seems that voice saying 'are you sure prime minister?' is missing.
"I think D-Day reminds us that when politicians get it wrong eventually people do pay with their lives - it is not an event fading into history.
"I can never remember a period so uncertain."
In his apology on Friday, Mr Sunak said: “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.”
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About the author
Noor is the Local Democracy Reporter for Oxfordshire who covers political stories from across the county.
She began working as a journalist in Oxford in September 2023 having graduated from the University of Oxford.
Noor was trained at the News Associates journalism school and can be found on X through the handle @NoorJQurashi
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