Mordaunt says Sunak's decision to leave D-Day event was 'wrong'

Mordaunt Deems Sunak Leaving D-Day Event 'inappropriate'

Penny Mordaunt, a cabinet member who supports conservative values, expressed her disagreement with the prime minister's choice to leave the D-Day commemorations ahead of schedule. She stated that this decision was not in alignment with her beliefs.

During the televised election debate involving seven parties, Ms Mordaunt expressed her agreement with Rishi Sunak's apology to both veterans and the general public.

During the ongoing general election campaign, a notable blunder occurred when Mr Sunak made an error that received substantial criticism from senior members of political parties. The incident took place on Thursday, during an event in France that was organised to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings.

The Prime Minister departed for the UK ahead of schedule, leaving the Foreign Secretary, David Cameron, to serve as his deputy.

The opening query posed during Friday's discussion pertained to matters of national security.

The head of Reform UK, Nigel Farage, expressed disapproval of Chancellor Rishi Sunak's choice to depart early, describing it as "awful". Farage believes that this action exhibits that the current prime minister lacks patriotism.

Ms Mordaunt stated that the situation was entirely incorrect, and the prime minister has appropriately expressed remorse for it. He apologized to not only veterans but also to the entire population, as he was a representative of all of us.

The Head of the House of Representatives stated that the matter should not be utilized as a means of political gain. However, Mr. Farage, who personally traveled to Normandy, believes that it has already been turned into one.

Ms Mordaunt chose not to continue with the trend of other Conservatives who commended Sunak's accomplishments regarding veterans and defence on Friday.

Beforehand, the Prime Minister expressed regret on X by stating his desire that political matters do not diminish the significance of the heroic actions of those who endangered their lives.

He acknowledged that, after reconsidering the situation, it would have been better for him to have stayed at the event where global leaders, including Joe Biden, recognized the sacrifices made by soldiers in 1944.

Mordaunt expresses that Sunak's departure from the D-Day event was not appropriate.

During the debate, Ms Mordaunt was questioned about whether she would have departed Normandy prematurely. In response, she stated that she did not participate in D-Day and expressed her belief that what occurred was morally unjustifiable. Additionally, Ms Mordaunt acknowledged that the prime minister has already issued an apology for the event.

I believe it's crucial that we pay tribute to the legacy of those who fought for our freedom. However, to do so, it's necessary that we allocate the appropriate funds towards defense expenditures. Without adequate investment in defense, we cannot properly respect and uphold the sacrifices made by those who came before us.

The leader of the SNP in Westminster, Stephen Flynn, expressed that a prime minister who prioritizes their own political success over serving the public is not a genuine prime minister.

A leader who prioritizes their personal political goals over the welfare of Normandy war veterans cannot be considered a true leader as a prime minister.

"It is our responsibility as citizens to exercise our right to vote and remove the Conservative Party from power."

Daisy Cooper, the deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats, expressed strong disagreement with the decision made by Mr. Sunak. She deemed it "politically shameful" and emphasized her grandfather's involvement in the Normandy landings on D-Day.

Rhun ap Iorwerth, the leader of Plaid Cymru, expressed that it was not the appropriate time for the Prime Minister to prioritize his personal political endeavors.

According to Carla Denyer, who is one of the leaders of the Green Party, a lot of veterans have a difficult time adjusting to life after their service. She considers this a tragedy.

During the D-Day celebrations, a British occasion was held at Ver sur Mer that was attended by the prime minister and King Charles. However, Mr Sunak departed before the worldwide tribute that took place at Omaha Beach.

The party has confirmed that Sir Keir Starmer, the leader of the Labour Party, stayed until the conclusion of the event. It was also suggested that Mr Sunak made a comeback to the venue for the purpose of recording an interview with ITV.

Sir Keir was impressed by the obstacles that veterans had to overcome to attend the event. Despite the challenges, many of them rose from their wheelchairs to pay tribute to the King.

He expressed that it held great significance for him to attend and show his respect to the ones who served and sacrificed for their country, including the ones who couldn't return. Moreover, he felt obliged to express his gratitude towards them.

Rishi Sunak is accountable for his own actions and he will be expected to explain them. As far as I'm concerned, there was no other place for me to be.

Jack Hemmings, who is 102 years old and served as a pilot during World War Two, recently attended the commemoration event in Normandy. When asked by the BBC about Chancellor Rishi Sunak's early departure from the event, Mr. Hemmings expressed his disapproval, stating that it was the wrong decision.

"He chose to prioritize holding an election over acknowledging the thousands who lost their lives."

During his service with the 353 Squadron, Mr Hemmings operated the Lockheed Hudson airplane to conduct maritime patrols, with the primary objective of safeguarding the Bay of Bengal from potential Japanese attacks.