Rishi Sunak didn’t consider quitting after D-Day scandal – and hits back at Nigel Farage’s comments on ‘our culture’ | Political news

Over the weekend, rumors emerged Rishi Sunak could resign as Prime Minister before July 4 election day, as Conservatives sought to quell backlash against the Prime Minister’s early departure on the day J.

Rishi Sunak has not considered resigning over the D-Day controversy, he said on Monday as he criticized Nigel Farage’s claims he does not understand “our culture”.

After keeping a low profile this weekend, the Prime Minister sought on Monday to put an end to the controversy surrounding his mandate. early departure of the Normandy Landing commemorations.

Returning to the campaign trail today, Mr Sunak said he would continue to “fight for the future of our country” and would pursue it “until the last day of this campaign”.

Latest election: Liberal Democrats unveil £9bn NHS pledge

This weekend, senior Tory figures were forced to deny claims he could resign before July 4 polling day.

This morning Police Minister Chris Philp told Sky News he was “shocked and disappointed” by the D-Day gaffewhile also defending his close ally.

Asked if he had considered quitting this weekend, Mr Sunak said: “No. Of course not.”

“I’m energized by the vision we’re putting forward for the country. This campaign isn’t even halfway there yet,” he told reporters in Horsham, West Sussex.

He had attended other D-Day events in Normandy earlier on Thursday and in Portsmouth on Wednesday.

He added: “A lot of people want to write me off, write this off, say this campaign or these elections are a foregone conclusion.

“Besides, they’ve been saying that since I got this job, right? Not since this election campaign.”

Mr Sunak added: “The reality is I’m not going to stop going, I’m not going to stop fighting for the people’s votes, I’m not going to stop fighting for the future of our country .”

Adopting a more conciliatory tone than his apologies on FridayMr Sunak said today he “(hopes) people will find it in their hearts to forgive me”.

The Liberal Democrats said the prime minister had hit “rock bottom” by being forced to dismiss rumors of his resignation.

The party’s local government spokeswoman Helen Morgan said: “This is rock bottom for Rishi Sunak. A Tory leader having to rule out the possibility of resigning before polling day shows that the workings of the Conservative campaign have been completely derailed.”

👉 Tap here to follow Politics at Jack at Sam’s wherever you get your podcasts 👈

Mr Sunak also hit back at claims by Nigel Farage, leader of the right-wing Reform UK party, that he does not understand “our culture”.

Britain’s reform leader was condemned after saying the British-Asian prime minister did not ‘care’ about UK history, in an attack on his decision to walk out of D-Day commemorations earlier this week last.

Shadow Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood called the comments a “dog whistle”, while Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride said they made him “very uncomfortable”.

Asked about the comments during an informal briefing with journalists, the prime minister said: “I’m not going to get involved in this because I don’t think it’s good for our politics or even for our country “.