Rishi Sunak won’t quit over furious D-Day row and ‘deeply patriotic’ PM will ‘absolutely’ lead the Tories into the general election on 4 July, insists Cabinet ally Mel Stride

Rishi Sunak will ‘definitely’ lead the Tories to the top general election on July 4 despite widespread anger at him for skipping a D-Day event, a Cabinet ally said today.

Mel Stridethe Work and Pensions Secretary, rejected suggestions the Prime Minister could quit amid outrage over his early departure from the Normandy commemorations.

He said Mr Sunak would feel anger at his actions ‘very deeply’ and would be ‘very uncomfortable about what has happened’.

But he insisted the embattled prime minister’s “commitment and patriotism” were “beyond doubt”.

A lot of Conservatives fear their slim hopes for the general election have been dealt a blow by the prime minister’s decision not to attend a major international ceremony on Thursday.

Mr Sunak attended the British national D-Day event in Portsmouth on Wednesday and then the British ceremony in Normandy on Thursday, the 80th anniversary of the Allied landings.

But he left France for world leaders, including the American president Joe Biden gathered on Thursday afternoon for the most important international ceremony on Omaha Beach.

Instead of, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lord Cameron was the most senior British minister at the event and was pictured with France’s Mr Biden Emmanuel MacronAnd Germany‘S Olaf Scholz.

It later emerged that Mr Sunak had conducted a TV interview on his return to Britain from northern France.

Rishi Sunak will ‘absolutely’ lead the Tories into the July 4 general election despite widespread anger at him for skipping a D-Day event, a Cabinet ally said today.

Mel Stride, the Work and Pensions Secretary, has dismissed suggestions the Prime Minister could quit amid outrage over his early departure from the Normandy commemorations.

Mr Sunak’s early departure from Normandy saw Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron join US President Joe Biden, France’s Emmanuel Macron and Germany’s Olaf Scholz on Omaha Beach

When asked on Sky News this morning whether the Prime Minister would continue to lead the Tories into the general election – despite the D-Day row – Mr Stride said: ‘Absolutely.

‘There should be no question of anything other than that. Because what matters now… is that there is a clear choice for the British people.’

The minister admitted he had not spoken directly to Sunak since the row broke out, but said the Prime Minister would ‘personally feel these things very deeply’.

“I know Rishi quite well, in fact I consider him a friend of sorts,” Mr Stride said. “And I know he is a deeply patriotic man who cares deeply about this country.”

He added: “Of course he understood the weight of this event. This man cares very much about our country and I know that because I know him well.’

The Work and Pensions Secretary said that, in my view, Mr Sunak’s commitment and patriotism are unquestionable.

“That’s not the same as saying no mistake was made,” he added.

“He accepts that, he didn’t run away or resist that situation.

‘What he did was stand up, put his hands up, accept that a mistake had been made and apologize unequivocally.

“I know he will personally feel these things very deeply.

Asked what other commitments had prompted Mr Sunak to leave the D-Day commemorations early on Thursday, Mr Stride said: ‘I haven’t talked about it.

‘What I do know is that he has realized that he made a mistake. He deeply regrets that and has unequivocally apologized for it.’