RISHI Sunak fleeing D-Day early was branded a “significant mistake” by his own Veterans Minister this morning.
Johnny Mercer refused to say that the Conservatives would win the election, as he admitted that the Prime Minister’s return home was a big “mistake”, adding: “You can imagine how I felt as Minister for Veterans Affairs when this happened”.
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The former Commando revealed that he spoke with the PM this morning and called the entire incident “disappointing.”
He added of his conversation with Sunak: “He knows this is a mistake. He takes responsibility for everything because he is the prime minister.”
In a fiery interview on our Never Mind The Ballots program, Mercer said he was “not underestimating” the importance of the prime minister’s departure ahead of an international reception on Omaha Beach with 25 other world leaders.
Mr Sunak returned from France yesterday afternoon to film an interview with ITV, sending Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron in his place.
Earlier today, the Prime Minister issued an apology for missing the commemorative ceremony, admitting: “It was a mistake not to stay longer in France and I apologize.”
Mercer told The Sun: “Obviously it’s a mistake.
“The PM on these visits receives a lot of advice about what he should and shouldn’t do.
“I spoke to the PM this morning and obviously it’s disappointing, but I think the fake outrage from people who have done nothing but make my life difficult by trying to improve Veterans Affairs is quite nauseating.
Pressed by Sun political editor Harry Cole about how the Prime Minister’s team “could have seen this coming”, Mr Mercer admitted: Well, I mean, yes.
“I obviously share a lot of that.
“But all I’m saying is you have to put these things in context.
“Obviously you can imagine how I felt, as Veterans Minister, when that happened.”
“But I also see this reaction from people who have done nothing but make my life difficult and have not lifted a single finger to help veterans over the years.
“And it’s very nauseating. The guy made a mistake and apologized for it.”
“People are going to try to turn this into a big political moment.
“It’s a significant mistake, and I’m not downplaying it, but I think it should also be taken into account in the context of what we’ve actually done for veterans.”
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Asked whether the Tories could still win the election, Mercer said: “I think we have to keep fighting.
“And ultimately, you know, there will be a vote on the day and we’ll see what happens.”
This morning the PM was condemned by the leaders of other political parties, including reformist boss Nigel Farage, who was in Normandy for the celebrations.
He told The Sun: “I was honored to help raise £100,000 for the London Taxi charity to send veterans to Normandy.
“It was a pleasure to meet you at the various events.
“Rishi Sunak couldn’t be bothered to attend the international event above Omaha Beach.
“Who really believes in our people, him or me?”
Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey added that the PM “abandoned” the few surviving D-Day veterans “on the beaches of Normandy”.
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Mercer, who served in Afghanistan and was in the Army for 11 years, criticized the Labor Party for “saying Cool things about veterans” without being able to deliver results for former squadrons.
He added that Sir Keir Starmer’s plan for veterans lacked “a basic understanding that veterans are not in the Armed Forces”.
He continued: “They are civilians who have left and they need the whole government to work for them and specific pathways for things like mental health.
“There is a clear differentiation between what we are doing with veterans, and you can see what happens to ensure you are not penalized by the Armed Forces compensation scheme or your pension and your pension credit.
“I think it’s traditional British policyto say Cool things about veterans and holding hands to take a photograph, and then not even bothering to apply the policy that will change their lives.
ANALYSIS: ‘A SPECTACULAR OBJECTIVE’
By RYAN SABEY, Deputy Political Editor
This was a spectacular own goal from Rishi Sunak – and he will regret the moment he boarded the plane in France back to Britain.
As far as major mistakes go, this has occurred, with Theresa May being seen as slow to react to the Grenfell Tower disaster shortly after the 2017 election.
But for Sunak, just when he had Labor on the defensive over taxes and a decent debate on TV, he undid all the good work.
The Tories needed a game changer that would give them a fighting chance in this election campaign – but they were the ones who made this terrible misstep.
Just when he has Nigel Farage’s Reform Party on his shoulders, chasing the patriotic vote, this huge misstep could see more disgruntled Tories fall apart.
This campaign was quite difficult for the Conservatives. It was always going to be an exercise in damage limitation to be 20 points behind in the polls.
But this reckless decision leaves the campaign in tatters.
The Conservatives appeared to be playing with their core vote in this election – and this could lead them to stay at home or vote elsewhere.
Sir Keir Starmer has been adamant that his priority is “country first, party second” as he campaigns across the country.
For Rishi Sunak, many people who might have been tempted to support him will see this D-Day fiasco as “party first, country second”.
Also speaking on the program, former Colonel Alistair Carns said it was “disappointing” that the PM left D-Day early.
The former Royal Marine was awarded the Military Cross for his actions while serving in Afghanistan and left the military after 24 years last Thursday to stand as a candidate for the Labor Party in Selly Oak, Birmingham.
He told The Sun: “I don’t want to go to parties policy on this.
“Leaving early was a mistake, but I’m pretty sure the Prime Minister recognizes that.
“This is a monumental event and there was a carefully crafted message from President Biden to Russia.
“We should have been represented all along.
“I’m very proud that the Labor Party was there and that Keir Starmer stayed.”
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This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
