Election latest: Rishi Sunak admits mistake after returning early from D-Day commemorations (2024)

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 them "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."

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 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".

By Jennifer Scott, political reporter

The Conservatives will promise a tax cut for parents on Friday by raising the threshold for when families have to pay a levy on their child benefit.

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.

Chancellor Jeremy Huntclaimed the policy would lead to an average tax cut of £1,500 for around 700,000 families, and in turn "boost families' financial security and give them more money to spend on the things that matter most".

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

This latest move by the government follows its decision in Aprilto raise the threshold for when the high income child benefit tax charge kicks in from £50,000 to £60,000.

Read more here:

It's Friday morning and that means the latest Electoral Dysfunction is out.

Labour grandee Harriet Harman joins Beth Rigby and Ruth Davidson as the first Friday sub for Jess Phillips during the election period.

They break down the Labour tax row that has dogged both Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer since the first leaders' debate earlier this week, give their take on the impact Nigel Farage standing in Clacton-on-Sea will have on the campaign, and lift the curtain on how the parties will be writing their manifestos.

Plus, Harriet reveals a surprise ally from her time in the Commons.

👉Click here to follow Electoral Dysfunction wherever you get your podcasts👈

Email Beth, Ruth, and Harriet atelectoraldysfunction@sky.uk, post on X to @BethRigby, or send a WhatsApp voice note on 07934 200 444.

By Jon Craig, chief political correspondent

It's a meeting that's so top secret that those attending - at a secret location - are ordered to surrender their mobile phone and any other electronic devices when they arrive.

They're given numbered copies of the agenda, thick bundles which are then collected from them at the end of the meeting. Security is extremely tight. Nothing is left to chance.

No, this is not a meeting of spooks and generals to plot the nation's secret strategy for going to war. At least not a real war. And those participating are not members of the government. Yet.

This is Labour's "Clause V" meeting, attended by Sir Keir Starmer and his shadow cabinet, senior backbench MPs, top trade union leaders and members of the party's national executive.

And it's happening this Friday, with just one huge item on the agenda: agreeing the manifesto that Sir Keir is expected to present to the country on 13 June, three weeks before polling day.

The manifesto will be based on Sir Keir's five "missions" launched last year - on the economy, the NHS, crime, climate change and education. Labouris declaring war - on the Tories.

Read more here:

Good morning!

We're deep into the second full week of the fight for all 650 parliamentary seats - and the keys to Number 10.

Political parties are spreading out across the country to get their message out ahead of polling day on 4 July.

Here's what you need to know:

• Labour's election manifesto is expected to pledge recognition of a Palestinian state before the end of a peace process, Sky News understands. The manifesto will be formally signed off at a "Clause Five" meeting today, and unveiled to the public next Thursday;
• The prime minister will return to the campaign trail today. He will be in the South West as the Conservatives pledge to cut taxes for families;
• Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and deputy Angela Rayner will visit a housing development in Greater London as they launch a "freedom to buy" scheme to get more young people on the housing ladder;
• The Lib Dems will be meeting families in South London as they pledge reforms to parental leave, including a "dad month" of paid leave for new fathers and a doubling of statutory maternity pay;
• Scotland's first minister and SNP leader John Swinney will claim that both Labour and the Conservatives are "concealing" the extent of spending cuts to come at a campaign speech in Glasgow;
• The final countdown has begun for candidates to file their nominations for the general election, with the deadline at 4pm this afternoon. The statement of persons nominated will be published shortly afterwards;
• "Leading figures" from the seven main parties will take part in a BBC debate this evening. Penny Mordaunt will represent the Conservatives, Angela Rayner for Labour, Daisy Cooper for the Lib Dems, Nigel Farage for Reform, Stephen Flynn for the SNP and Carla Denyer for the Greens.

This morning's guests will be:

• David Johnston, parliamentary under-secretary of state for children, families and wellbeing at 7.15am;
• Matthew Pennycook, shadow housing minister at 7.50am;

Stick with us for all the latest political news throughout the day.

We're ending our live coverage for the night - but don't worry, we'll be back in the morning.

Before you go, here are the major announcements from the two big parties tonight.

Make sure to check back in the morning as the general election campaign rumbles on towards the end of another week.

Labour are going on the offensive after Rishi Sunak left the D-Day ceremonies in Normandy today early.

While the prime minister was present for the initial parts of the commemoration on the 80th anniversary of the landings, 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 also been keen to highlight a picture of Sir Keir Starmer alongside Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

A Labour Party source said: "If the prime minister has skipped this afternoon's D-Day commemorations to try and convince people he's not a liar, he should just tell the truth".

Jonathan Ashworth, Labour’s shadow paymaster general, 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.

"Our country deserves so much better than out-of-touch, desperate Rishi Sunak and his chaotic Tory Party."

Meanwhile, Reform leader Nigel Farage said: "The prime minister has ducked out of the international D-Day event to fly back to the UK to campaign.

"I am here in Normandy in a personal capacity because I think it matters. Does he?"

The accusation that he was trying to defend himself against accusations of being a liar came after ITV News tweeted a clip of an interview with Mr Sunak.

Allegations that Mr Sunak was lying about the Labour Party wanting to raise tax by £2,000 were put to him.

The prime minister said this was "desperate" - and did not accept the claim was "dubious".

ITV's Paul Brand, who carried out the interview, later confirmed the chat took place after the PM came back from France - but ITV did not choose the time.

The £2,000 figure relates to alleged tax rises the Conservatives think Labour will put in place over the next four years - equating to £500 a year.

As Sky data and economics editor Ed Conway explained here - there are many flaws with the figure, and it ignores the fact the Conservatives have raised tax by £13,000 in the past five years if you use the same method.

It's just gone 10pm on what has been a reasonably quiet day on the election front - given the D-Day commemorations in Normandy - but there are still developments to bring you up to speed on.

Notably, it's emerged the Conservative Party accepted fresh cash from donor Frank Hester days after the prime minister had condemned "racist and wrong" comments he made about Diane Abbott.

Here is what you may have missed:

• Labour said Rishi Sunak has "proven he is a man with no integrity" after accepting more money from Frank Hester;
• This includes a £5m donation in January, and another £150,000 in March, which came after the prime minister had condemned his comments about Labour's Diane Abbott;
• As a reminder, it was reported earlier this year that - in 2019 - he'd said Ms Abbott should be "shot" and made him "want to hate all black women";
• Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey has called on the PM to return the cash, while his party have pledged to introduce a cap on political donations;
• More polls are showing Reform catching up with the Conservatives;
• Labour has faced accusations it has U-turned on support for Waspi women who claim they are owed pension compensation;
• Elsewhere, Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross has officially announced his plans to stand at the general election;
• The move prompted Skychief political correspondent Jon Craigto examine so-called "chicken run" Tory candidates;
• The Green Partyhas pledged to spend £50bn a year more on the NHS through those with "broadest shoulders" paying more;
• The party also ditched a pledge made on its website to "reduce" childbirth interventions;
  
• In lighter news, veterans minister Johnny Mercer defended himself - and his "tender meat flippers" - after he was pictured barefoot on a train.

Sky News is also looking for people to be in the audience for its leaders' programme with Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer.

The Battle For Number 10 will air from 7pm next Wednesday.

Here are some other stories you might want to read:

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