Watch: Sunak blames lateness for TV interview on D-Day event that ‘ran over’

Grant Shapps denied Rishi Sunak was “completely tone deaf” on D-Day after it emerged the Prime Minister said he was late for a TV interview because commemorations had “ran over”.

Mr Sunak missed the US president’s speech at Normandy after he left the anniversary ceremony early to return to the UK.

The Prime Minister apologised for D-Day commemorations “running over” as he sat down for an ITV News interview after leaving the 80th anniversary events in France.

In footage from the interview, which was recorded last Thursday but released today, the Prime Minister arrived on set out of shot and was greeted by ITV News editor Paul Brand.

In response, Mr Sunak said: “Gosh hello. Very nice to see you. Sorry to have kept you.”

Asked about the D-Day ceremony in Normandy during introductory pleasantries, the Prime Minister appeared flustered as he looked around the room and took his seat.

“Yeah it all just ran over…it was incredible, but it just ran over everything, so apologies for keeping you,” he said.

Mr Brand responded by saying: “I’m sure it was a powerful trip”, highlighting the added poignancy of the 80th anniversary of the landings coinciding with the war in Ukraine.

Mr Sunak said: “I haven’t seen President Biden’s remarks, but that’s kind of the echo I think of what he said.”

Asked if he got to meet any of the veterans who attended the commemoration event, Mr Sunak said: “Oh my god, lots.Yesterday and today. Yeah I probably spoke to almost everyone that was there, I hope.”

It was suggested to Mr Shapps on Wednesday morning during an interview on Sky News that the clip showed Mr Sunak was “completely tone deaf”.

But the Defence Secretary said: “No. First of all, I was at the D-Day events and he was there meeting British veterans.

Mr Sunak has apologised for missing the remainder of the commemorations – which were attended by the King, Joe Biden, Emmanuel Macron, Olaf Scholz and other leaders – and on Monday asked D-Day veterans to “find it in their hearts” to forgive him.

Asked by ITV’s Paul Brand if he had the opportunity to meet any of the veterans, Mr Sunak replied: “Gosh, lots over yesterday and today. Yeah. I’ve already spoke to almost everyone that was there, I hope.”

The Prime Minister also said in the interview that he went without “lots of things” as a child growing up, revealing he was forced to miss out on Sky TV.

When asked about his wealth and if he ever had to go without something he wanted, Mr Sunak said: “There’ll be all sorts of things that I would’ve wanted as a kid that I couldn’t have.

“Famously, Sky TV, so that was something that we never had growing up actually. But it was lots of things but again, that’s my experience.”

Mr Sunak grew up in Southampton and attended Winchester College, a private boarding school in Hampshire.

He said his parents made lots of sacrifices so he could attend a private school and was raised in a household that prioritised education and hard work.

“What is more important is my values and how I was raised. And I was raised in a household where hard work was really important … service to your community was important.

“And my parents worked very hard for what they had and they wanted their kids to have a better life.”

The Prime Minister was also asked about Nigel Farage, the Reform leader, who claimed Mr Sunak did not “care” about British history after his decision to leave the D-Day commemoration.

When asked what are Mr Farage’s best qualities, Mr Sunak said: “I really don’t know him. I think I’ve met him maybe once in my life.

“At the end of the day, as I said, one of two people is going to be prime minister on 5 July. It’s either Keir Starmer or me.”

The full interview will air on ITV on Wednesday night before Mr Sunak faces Labour leader Sir Keir in a head-to-head live debate.