British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak denied rumors Monday that he would withdraw from the upcoming election following criticism of his early departure from D-Day commemoration events.
When asked during a campaign visit to West Sussex if he planned to quit, Sunak responded, “No, of course not. I'm energized about the vision we're putting forward for the country.
"This campaign is not even halfway through yet. I'm finding enormous support for the policies that we're putting on the table," he said.
Sunak, 44, apologized Friday for declining to attend an event in northern France alongside other world leaders, commemorating the 80th anniversary of the invasion. His decision not to attend prompted strong criticism from veterans groups.
Sunak wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on Friday, “On reflection, it was a mistake not to stay in France longer.”
He said the anniversary of the Allied invasion that helped free Europe from the Nazis “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.”
As Britain’s July 4 general election rapidly approaches, Sunak is facing backlash for his campaign mistakes, drawing disapproval even from some members of his own Conservative Party.
Recent opinion polls indicate that the Conservative Party will lose to the main opposition Labour Party in July’s election.
Sunak dismissed suggestions Monday that the election outcome was predetermined, citing his resilience in bouncing back from setbacks, including his previous loss to Liz Truss in the internal Tory leadership contest.
Sunak later succeeded Truss after her departure from the prime minister post in October 2022.
Sunak could have waited until January 2025 to call a general election but surprised even members of his own party by advancing the election date, citing a decrease in inflation.
Some information for this report came from Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
