Farage's milkshake and Sunak's D-Day calamity: key moments from the election campaign – week three

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It's been another hectic week on the campaign trail as political parties jostle for your vote in the July 4 general election.

The Independentidentified these key moments from the week:

Sunak's D-Day calamity

The Prime Minister easily made the biggest blunder of the campaign so far by bowing out early D-Day commemoration events in Normandy, France, on Thursday. His baffling decision not to stand alongside other world leaders on the world stage sparked fury, with at least one Norman veteran suggesting the prime minister had let his country down. Mr Sunak apologized for the mistake, but the damage had been done.

Farage hit with a milkshake

Another unwelcome development for Mr Sunak was Nigel Farage's decision to half-heartedly turn to stand for election in Clacton-on-Sea. Addressing hundreds of supporters at a rally on Tuesday, Mr Farage said he would be a “bloody nuisance” in Westminster. He aims to lead the Reformists ahead of the Conservatives, to the right of British politics. The day of campaigning ended on a sour note for Mr Farage as, not for the first time, he was doused with a milkshake.

Sunak was offered a deal to stop Farage

It was exclusively revealed by The Independent that in recent months a deal was being made between Rishi Sunak and Nigel Farage's parties to pave the way for the conservatives in the elections. Conservative Brexiteer MP Andrea Jenkyns and former Leave.EU communications director Andy Wigmore attempted to negotiate the deal, but sources told us Mr Sunak was ultimately dissuaded by his advisers.

< figure class="sc-1cbdeug-0 kvknr" >British reform leader Nigel Farage (James Manning/PA) (PA Wire)Sunak and Starmer face off in first televised debate

Mr. Sunak and Sir Keir took part in their first pre-e...