Above, Chris Mason, the BBC’s Political Editor.
It was a toss-up: Do I go with the title above or “The morning after the day before!” ???
From time to time elections throw up particular moments. Mr Farage having an encounter with a milkshake in Clacton is one. The astonishing “mistake” [his words] by the Unfortunate Sunak is another.
The first thing a commentator will ask of themselves about Sunak’s action is why? Why did he make such an obvious error?
The reported reason is campaigning. Conventional [political campaigning] wisdom has it [for a leader] that rubbing shoulders with fellow “world leaders” is good as it demonstrating one performing the role of “world leader”.
But then let us consider the phrase “rubbing shoulders”. It is of course a figurative expression. However, for the Unfortunate Sunak the literal expression might be figuring prominently in his mind. This because at 5 ft 6 in, Sunak is an inch shorter than Macron and 6 inches shorter than Biden. In 2024, at 5 ft 6 in, Sunak is short for a man. This is something he will be very very aware and conscious of. To what extent it bothers him is something only he and his close colleagues will know.
Herewith the link to the BBC; https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-politics-69098963
As this link will change over the hours herewith below relevant copies of the text:
Timeline: 10:05 > Sunak will have to answer for his own actions, Starmer says Starmer – PA Media Copyright: PA Media:
We’ve just heard from Labour leader Keir Starmer, who says Rishi Sunak “will have to answer for his own actions” after leaving D-Day commemoration events in Normandy prematurely yesterday.
“For me, there was nowhere else I was going to be,” Starmer told reporters on a campaign visit.
Timeline: 10:00 > An extraordinary own goal – Chris Mason, Political Editor, BBC:
What an extraordinary own goal.
For days, the leaders’ teams for the Conservatives and Labour had been telling me things would be different on Wednesday and Thursday of this week.
Politics would take a backseat, the focus would be on the D-Day commemorations.
It did, and it was. Until that is, it wasn’t.
Rishi Sunak’s decision to leave the most photographed, remarked upon and most poignant event in Europe early was always likely to be spotted.
Sunak was hurtling back to the UK to get stuck back into campaigning – recording a lengthy interview with ITV.
We know that because ITV released an extract of it last night, in which the prime minister insisted he hadn’t lied about Labour’s tax plans.
Yes, that’s right – the prime minister left D-Day events early in order not to apologise for misleading claims about his opponents, only to apologise for leaving early in the first place.
Timeline: 9:07 – BBC:
If you’re just joining us, or need a recap, Rishi Sunak’s facing criticism after prematurely leaving D-Day commemorations in France.
It’s connected to an ongoing row between his party, the Conservatives, and Labour about claims Sunak made about Labour’s tax plans earlier this week.
Here’s a rundown of how we got here:
Tuesday: Sunak and Labour leader Keir Starmer go head-to-head in a TV debate – Sunak claims taxes will rise by £2,000 under Labour and that the figure has been costed by “independent Treasury officials”
Wednesday: A top Treasury civil servant objects to the presentation of that figure, saying the Tory estimate “includes costs beyond those provided by the civil service”. Starmer accuses Sunak of lying during the debate. BBC Verify says the figure risks misleading people – more here
Thursday afternoon: The Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR) says Sunak’s claim is misleading, as anyone who heard him wouldn’t know the £2,000 figure was an estimate for a four-year period
Thursday evening: Reports circulate that Sunak has flown back from France early and it later transpires he’s taken part in a pre-recorded interview with ITV to air next week. ITV publishes a preview, showing Sunak denying he lied about the tax claims
A few hours ago: Sunak apologises for leaving D-Day early, saying “it was a mistake not to stay in France longer”