THE son of a Bradford soldier who served during D-Day has criticised Rishi Sunak - after the Prime Minister left memorial events early to carry out a TV interview.
Mr Sunak has apologised and said that "on reflection" he should have stayed in Normandy for a major international ceremony attended by world leaders on the 80th anniversary of D-Day yesterday.
Instead, Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron represented the UK Government, while Mr Sunak's rival for the keys to Downing Street, Sir Keir Starmer, was also there rubbing shoulders with world leaders.
Eric Lorriman, who used to live in the Manningham area of the city, was one of the survivors of D-Day.
As reported by the Telegraph & Argus yesterday, Eric's son Gary, of Harden, near Bingley, told of his pride in his father.
Today, he said he was "very disappointed" in Mr Sunak by his actions yesterday.
Gary told the T&A: "It was a big mistake by the Prime Minister.
"Many people like my dad were there for all of D-Day and other big conflicts.
"The least Mr Sunak could have done was stay for the whole event yesterday and not leave early.
"I'm sure this will cost him plenty of votes."
The Prime Minister left Normandy to record an ITV General Election interview which will air next week.
The broadcaster said the timing of the interview was suggested by the Conservative Party.
In a statement, Mr Sunak said: "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."
The Prime Minister denied reports he had considered missing the Normandy elements of the D-Day anniversary commemorations entirely.
He told broadcasters it was "simply not right" to suggest he had thought about not travelling to France.
Veteran' minister Johnny Mercer said he understood the "outrage" at the Prime Minister's actions.
But he defended Mr Sunak's record on veterans' issues.
He also suggested that Mr Sunak's team should take a share of the blame for their advice to him.
Gary, meanwhile, described the 80th anniversary of D-Day as "very emotional".
"I visited my sister and we were thinking about my father a lot," he said.
"We'll always remember him and the other people who did what they did all those years ago."
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