Rishi Sunak has said it was a “mistake” to return from D-Day commemorations in Normandy early.

The prime minister was heavily criticised for not being at part of the 80th anniversary D-Day ceremony on Thursday as he travelled back from France to the UK to record a TV interview set to go out next week.

He was last seen giving a speech mid-morning and was notably absent from the International Ceremony on Omaha Beach at 3.30pm that was billed as being attended by 25 heads of state, veterans and officials.

There are also questions about whether the PM was going to attend at all as he wanted to concentrate on the general election campaign, but that decision is understood to have been reversed with a short visit agreed on as a compromise.

On Friday morning, Mr Sunak issued an apology and said he cares “deeply about veterans”, but the mishap has left him open to attacks from other political parties as the election campaign enters its third week.

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“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,” he wrote on social media.

“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.”

Scottish Conservatives leader Douglas Ross said the commemoration was a “crucial moment in our history” and it was “right that he apologise”.

Veterans Affairs minister Johnny Mercer said the PM leaving early was a major “mistake” and after speaking to Mr Sunak this morning, he told The Sun: “He knows this is a mistake.”

“Obviously, you can imagine how I felt, as the Veterans’ Minister, when this happened,” he said.

He also accused the reaction from other politicians as being “faux outrage” and “pretty nauseating” because he said many have “done nothing but make my life difficult trying to improve veterans’ affairs”.

Other political parties used the “mistake” to attack Mr Sunak, saying it was “a dereliction of duty”.

Sir Ed Davey, the Liberal Democrat leader, posted on X after Mr Sunak’s apology, saying: “One of the greatest privileges of the office of prime minister is to be there to honour those who served, yet Rishi Sunak abandoned them on the beaches of Normandy.

“It is a total dereliction of duty and shows why this Conservative government just has to go.”

Labour shadow minister Jonathan Ashworth said: “In choosing to prioritise his own vanity TV appearances over our veterans, Rishi Sunak has shown what is most important to him.

“It is yet more desperation, yet more chaos, and yet more dreadful judgement from this out of touch prime minister.”

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer told Sky News: “For me, it was really important to be there for the whole day, that was the only choice I was going to make.

“The prime minister will have to answer for his choices.”

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Labour’s shadow defence secretary John Healey has written to defence secretary Grant Shapps requesting answers to questions including when the decision for Mr Sunak to only attend part of the ceremony was made, whether the TV interview was recorded while D-Day events were ongoing and if it is true the French government were initially informed the Pm would not attend.

SNP minister Neil Gray also called it a “dereliction of duty” and told Sky News the PM had “ill-served” the memory of his grandfather who served on D-Day.

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“I think it is utterly appalling and disgusting,” Mr Gray said.

“I think the offence that will be caused to the veterans community will be great.

“For the prime minister to think that a TV interview was more important than completing those commemorations is an appalling lack of judgement.”