The Foreign Secretary has praised Rishi Sunak’s apology and said he wanted to make D-Day commemorations “all about the veterans”.

Asked about the Prime Minister’s apology, Lord Cameron, who filled in for Mr Sunak, said: “I think it’s a tribute to the way he is that he thought on reflection he wished he had stayed in France, and instead of digging in and defending himself he just came straight out and said on reflection I wish I’d had stayed longer.

“But to be fair he was at the Portsmouth event with all the veterans, gave a brilliant speech, he was at the event, the British event, at our brand new built commemorative centre above Gold Beach in Normandy, where he was with the veterans, gave a fantastic speech. He always represents our veterans very well abroad. And he had a longstanding plan to return after that.

“We are in the middle of an election campaign so that’s not surprising, but then on reflection he said that he wished he’d stayed for the later event and it’s a credit to him that he’s been so frank about it.”

Asked whether Mr Sunak apologised because of how many people he had upset, Lord Cameron: “No, I think that’s an indication of the nature of Rishi Sunak. His point which I completely agree with which is that these events are all about the veterans, and he doesn’t want politics to get in the way of that. He had a longstanding plan to return to the UK after the British event and not go to the international event but he said on reflection he wished he had stayed in France. So I really think it’s about his frankness, and all credit to him.”