BORIS Johnson will today flee Tory party sleaze woes by bolting back to the COP26 summit in Glasgow.
His dodge comes after he was branded chicken on Monday for swerving a Commons showdown.
Last night, the PM canned plans for a Cabinet away day tomorrow at his country retreat of Chequers and will instead host an emergency Downing Street get-together.
Mr Johnson had been expected to return to Scotland this weekend for the end of the climate talks. But he was set to arrive there this morning — this time taking the train after a row about his use of a private jet last week.
The moves come after he tried to rip up the current parliamentary standards system to block the suspension of pal Owen Paterson over a lobbying scandal.
No10 then oversaw a U-turn amid the resulting fury, and Mr Paterson quit as an MP.
A senior Tory MP told Trending In The News: “It must be bad when the PM sees Scotland as safer than Downing Street.”
With a climate deal hanging in the balance, Mr Johnson will ask world powers to set aside differences and turn vague promises into action.
Huge sticking points remain on a timeline for slashing emissions. One source warned: “We’re in for a fight.” The PM said: “Negotiating teams are doing the hard yards in these final days of COP26.”
Saudi Arabia, China and India were accused of “naked and cynical attempts” to water down messages about humanity’s impact on the planet, fossil fuels, and greenhouse gases driving global warming.
Jennifer Morgan, Executive Director, Greenpeace International raged: “No country is immune to the catastrophic threat of rising temperatures, Saudi Arabia included, while the Gulf region is rich in renewable energy potential.”
Meanwhile, ministers confirmed they would ban all new petrol and diesel lorries being sold in the UK by 2040. Some 24 countries have joined the move to insist on hydrogen or electric powered trucks instead.
A spokesperson said: No10: “The Prime Minister is going up to meet negotiators, to get an update on progress in the talks and encourage ambitious action in the final days of the negotiations.”
