RISHI Sunak will lead the Tories into the election despite his calamitous D-Day blunder, a Cabinet Minister insisted today.
The prime minister left Normandy early last week, opting to miss a second international ceremony to continue his campaign.
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Wellbeing Secretary Mel Stride was forced to react to the suggestion he would “step aside” as leader before 4 July.
But the Tories are now struggling to advance the D-Day catastrophe agenda, despite announcing a major welfare crackdown today.
Conservatives have struggled to fend off criticism after the prime minister missed an international event in France to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings.
Former PM David Cameron was forced to replace him, taking his place alongside US President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron.
Stride was asked on Sky News’ Sunday Morning programme: “Is he going to lead you in this election?” Stride: “Absolutely and there should be no doubt about it.”
Support for Sunak comes at a time when the Conservatives are 20 points behind Labor in the polls and Nigel Farage’s Reform Party could soon overtake the Conservatives.
Stride added that the prime minister is a “profoundly patriotic person.”
He said: “He will feel this personally very deeply because he is a deeply patriotic person and he will be deeply uncomfortable.”
The Prime Minister took part in the British celebrations in France, but missed the international event.
Conservatives have strived to put patriotism at the center of their campaign.
They have committed to 2.5 percent of GDP for defense spending by 2030 and intend to introduce a National Service for young people if elected.
This morning Nigel Farage has doubled down on claims that Sunak’s early departure shows he is “unpatriotic” and does not understand “our culture”.
The Reform Chief faced backlash for the comment – with some calling it a “racist dog whistle”.
But a defiant Mr Farage responded by saying he was referring to the Prime Minister being so rich he doesn’t understand what is important to ordinary people.
He said: “The Prime Minister should have known in his heart that it was right to be there.
“The vast majority of people in Britain felt this commemoration was important.
“Forty percent of our contribution in the First and Second World Wars came from the Commonwealth.
“He is totally disconnected by class and privilege from how ordinary people in this country.
“He revealed this spectacularly when he left Normandy early.”
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