It was shaping up to be a tricky day for the Prime Minister as it emerged overnight he sacked off D-Day commemorations early to do a pre-recorded interview in London with – checks notes – ITV’s Paul Brand. It won’t air until next week, could have waited…
As awkward pictures were published showing Sunak had ditched the veterans and left, the temperature rose. The Lobby and the usual critics were trying to make a thing of it. Not that any veterans had…
At 7:45 a.m. the Prime Minister issued an unforced apology, ensuring the entire news cycle for the next 24 hours will be led on his decision to leave, putting him firmly at the centre of the rising ire. It is a gift for Keir Starmer, who will now be able to say that Sunak was forced to apologise to D-Day veterans, and plaster their campaign with Sunak’s admission that his actions were “a mistake”. At this stage Guido has to wonder: are the Sunak team actually working for the Labour Party?
Paula Barker, Liverpool Wavertree MP backing Andy Burnham, told Times Radio there wouldn’t be trouble from the markets under Burnham:
“The markets will have to fall in line.”