Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has been left fuming after the Prime Minister left a D-Day event early.
Sunak attended a British event at Ver sur Mer, which the Prime Minister and King Charles attended, but Sunak left before the international commemoration on Omaha Beach.
Speaking to GB News Farage said: "He doesn't understand how vitally important D-Day is in terms of our country, it's history. It is one of our top-ever achievements, and it's something that runs right through the generations in this country that we did something truly remarkable.
"It's at the edge of living memory. This was the last time ever there'll be a gathering of veterans on parade in Normandy. And if he's not prepared to go to the international commemoration with the heads of so many different countries overlooking a beach in which our American allies lost thousands of men, that says a lot about him.
Nigel Farage blasted the PM for his decision
GB News
"He is completely disconnected from the centre of this country, and he's proved to me that he basically is not a patriotic leader of the Conservative Party."
The PM has since apologised for leaving the event on X and penned: "The 80th anniversary of D-Day has been a profound moment to honour the brave men and women who put their lives on the line to protect our values, our freedom and our democracy.
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"This anniversary should be about those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. The last thing I want is for the commemorations to be overshadowed by politics.
"I care deeply about veterans and have been honoured to represent the UK at a number of events in Portsmouth and France over the past two days and to meet those who fought so bravely.
"After the conclusion of the British event in Normandy, I returned back to the UK. On reflection, it was a mistake not to stay in France longer – and I apologise."
Rishi Sunak left the event after attending a British event at Ver sur Mer,
PA
In contrast, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer stayed at the event until the end.
Sir Keir said he was "struck" by how difficult it had been for veterans to get there but how many made the effort to stand up from wheelchairs to salute the King.
He said: "I thought it was really important for me to be there to pay my respects to them and to those that did not return and actually to say thank you.
"Rishi Sunak will have to answer for his own actions. For me, there was nowhere else I was going to be."
The PM has since apologised
PA
Veterans Minister Johnny Mercer said that Veterans will be "feeling pretty raw" of Sunak's decision to leave but claimed he is "deeply committed".
Mercer said: "He's done the right thing to apologise, it was a mistake. It shouldn't have happened.
"Is this a fair reflection of how Rishi Sunak treats veterans? I can categorically say it's not. He's been deeply committed to this over many years.
"No one has allowed me to do more in the veteran space than this PM."
