Minister: ‘No question’ of replacing Sunak

It’s three days since Rishi Sunak’s Normandy gaffe but there’s no sign of the row going away anytime soon. The Sunday Times reports that Lord Cameron was ‘apoplectic’ about the Prime Minister’s decision to leave the D-Day commemorations early but, when asked why he had not ‘picked Sunak up by his lapels’, replied ‘There is only so much I can do.’ The papers adds that there is also ‘fury at Buckingham Palace’ as ‘the King, who is being treated for cancer, was advised not to travel but was determined to do so, despite being in pain.’ Talk about getting a full house on the outrage front…

It was left to Mel Stride, the Work and Pensions Secretary, to valiantly go forth on the media round to face the bombardment of the broadcasters. Speaking to Sky this morning, Stride was asked by Trevor Phillips whether it would not be ‘a courageous and moral act for him to step aside’ in order to ‘save seats which won’t be saved if he stays for the next four weeks.’