Conservative Penny Mordaunt has said the Prime Minister’s decision to leave the D-Day commemorations early was “completely wrong”.
In the BBC’s seven-way TV election debate on Friday, Ms Mordaunt said it was right that Rishi Sunak apologised to veterans and to the public, adding that the row should not become “a political football”.
In what is widely seen as the biggest gaffe of the general election campaign so far, Mr Sunak has been accused of dereliction of duty for leaving an event held in France to honour the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings.
The PM left Foreign Secretary David Cameron to deputise for him and travelled back to the UK early.
Ms Mordaunt said “What happened was completely wrong, and the Prime Minister has rightly apologised for that, apologised to veterans but also to all of us, because he was representing all of us.
“I’m from Portsmouth, I have also been defence secretary and my wish is at the end of this week is that all of our veterans feel completely treasured.”
The Leader of the House of Commons added that it was important to honour veterans’ legacy by spending “the right amount” on defence.
The prime minister also apologised on X, saying he hoped the “ultimate sacrifice” made by those who put their lives on the line would not be “overshadowed by politics”.
