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Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is accused by senior Tories of handing a “gift” to the Reform UK party by leaving D-Day commemorations in France early, the Financial Times says. During a seven-party BBC election debate on Friday night, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage claimed Mr Sunak had “deserted” veterans after returning to the UK early to record an interview, it says. The paper quotes a senior Tory party official as saying: “It’s a gift for Farage.”
The Daily Mail leads with the disappearance of Michael Mosley on the Greek island Symi. It carries a CCTV image of the TV presenter holding an umbrella on the day he vanished, and says Greek police are working on the assumption the 67-year-old took a “disastrous wrong turn” as he walked home.
Conservative insiders are said to be furious after Mr Sunak’s decision to leave D-Day commemorations early, the i reports. It carries a quote from Conservative Cabinet Minister Penny Mordaunt, who told the BBC debate on Friday the PM’s departure was “completely wrong”. The prime minister apologised on X on Friday morning, saying it was “a mistake not to stay in France longer”.
In addition to his comments on X, Mr Sunak has issued an apology to Daily Express readers, the newspaper says. The PM told the paper he cares “deeply” about veterans, and apologises to them and Express readers “unreservedly”. He adds he has taken part in a number of events to honour those who risked their lives 80 years ago, calling his participation “one of the greatest privileges of my life”.
The Times also leads with comments from Ms Mordaunt, who said Mr Sunak had “rightly” apologised “to all of us” for leaving Normandy early. The former defence secretary told the BBC debate her wish is that veterans feel "completely treasured”.
The Daily Telegraph says the Conservatives will vow to axe stamp duty for first-time buyers on properties worth up to £425,000 in their election manifesto. Some 200,000 households would benefit from the plans every year, the newspaper says. It says the publication of the party’s manifesto will be one of the last moments to change the dynamics of the election contest.
Mr Sunak’s decision to leave D-Day commemorations early is described by the Guardian as “the biggest misstep yet of an already faltering election campaign”. Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron took the PM’s place at Omaha beach alongside US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
The Mirror says the PM’s D-Day “snub” has ended the party’s election hopes, and quotes one of Mr Sunak’s ministers as saying “It’s over”. The paper also carries a photograph of Taylor Swift, who has performed for tens of thousands of fans in Edinburgh in the first show in the UK leg of the Eras Tour on Friday.
The Star also leads with reaction to Mr Sunak’s decision to leave the D-Day commemorations early. It says a veteran has accused the prime minister, who has apologised, of “letting the country down”.
