Adrastos, British Politics, Film, Fog Of History

Rishi Sunak’s D-Day Retreat

There was a 1962 movie about the D-Day landing called The Longest Day. I’d call a movie about Rishi Sunak’s D-Day retreat, The Shortest Day. One could also call it The Gaffe Heard Round The World.

Here’s how the Guardian’s John Crace described Rishi Sunak’s latest unforced error:

On Thursday Sunak made the extraordinary decision to fly home early from Normandy and skip the international D-day commemorations. Apart from being a gift to Starmer, who got to look like the real statesman by staying on and being photographed with Emmanuel Macron, Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Olaf Scholz, it made the prime minister appear as if he wasn’t really bothered. He had done the bare minimum of showing up for the British commemoration and then rushed back to London to try to save his own political skin. Imagine if the allied soldiers, sailors and airmen had decided 80 years ago that they didn’t really fancy it after all and had turned around midway through the morning of 6 June 1944. Only last week, Sunak was talking about the importance of young people giving something back to society through national service. Maybe he should sign up himself. The reason Sunak had skipped off home turned out to be that he wanted to give an interview to ITV in which he lied about not being a liar. You couldn’t make this stuff up.”

It’s not as if World War II has been forgotten in the UK. It’s been kept alive by recent movies such as Dunkirk and 1917 as well as teevee series like World On Fire. Rishi Sunak’s political world is on fire and not in a good way. His opponent, Labour leader Keir Starmer sat next to King Charles during the afternoon session that Rishi Sunak skipped.

Rishi Sunak’s D-Day retreat is a particularly bad look for a Tory prime minister. They pride themselves on being the party of Churchill but now they’re the party of a tone deaf rich guy who doesn’t give a shit about his country’s history. The reaction from members of Rishi Sunak’s colleagues and the right-wing media proves they’re not as far gone as the Trumpified GOP. There is not now nor will there ever be a Rishi Sunak cult.

The soon-to-be former Prime Minister tweeted out a tepid apology, but the damage was done:

His lofty words sound as hollow and shallow as the man himself. He had to reflect on his D-Day mistake before apologizing? Oy, just oy.

The Convicted Insult Comedian got in trouble over his lukewarm response to the 2018 D-Day ceremonies BUT the “suckers and losers” comment didn’t come out until 2020. It makes one wonder if the pundits who think Rishi Sunak is throwing the election are right. This goes beyond the realm of gaffes or unforced errors and verges on political seppuku.

The last word goes to Steely Dan with Rishi Sunak’s theme song:

Looks like Rishi not only lost that number but the thread and ultimately the election. Thanks, Prime Minister.

Apologies for posting that tune two days in a row but a theme song is a theme song. Besides, I didn’t lose that number, Rishi did.

One thought on “Rishi Sunak’s D-Day Retreat”

  1. Peter,

    I spent the past week in your fine (and fascinating) city, and on D-Day -1 (+80 years) went to the WWII Museum. It’s all very well done – I spent most of the five hours I was there in the Pacific Theatre – my Dad served in the ETO, and I’m quite familiar with the history, so I thought I’d go for learning something at age 64. It’s been years since I visited the Imperial War Museum in London, and I was very taken by the concentration on the “lower ranks” the GI’s, Sailors, and Marines who didn’t make the highlight reels. Heartbreaking stuff. I did go through the ETO side as well, and the D-Day exhibit is tremendous. Any national leader who can’t be bothered to take a day or two to honor the thousands and thousands who gave their all, well, they need to be replaced.

    Now back home in NY’s Hudson Valley, and after the steam bath that the Crescent City has been this week, 75 degrees feels down right chilly!

    Cheers,

    Luke

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