Rishi Sunak will not attend Cop27 climate summit to focus on autumn statement

RISHI Sunak will not go to the Cop27 climate summit as he focuses on the autumn statement.

Cop president Alok Sharma will go to Egypt next month to represent the Government — despite losing his spot in the Cabinet in the new PM’s reshuffle.



Rishi Sunak will not attend Cop27 climate summit to focus on autumn statement
The PM will not go to the Cop27 climate summit as he focuses on the autumn statement

Just two weeks ago, Mr Sharma told Egypt that former PM Liz Truss was due to attend.

A Downing Street spokesman said yesterday: “The Government is absolutely committed to supporting Cop27.”

“The Prime Minister is not expected to attend the summit in Egypt due to other pressing domestic commitments, including preparations for the autumn statement.

“The UK will be fully represented by other senior ministers, as well as COP President Alok Sharma.

“They will be working to ensure that countries continue to make progress on the ground-breaking commitments made at COP26 in Glasgow.

Just hours earlier the new PM booted Graham Stuart, the climate minister, and Mr Sharma, from attending Cabinet.

The pair will remain in their jobs, but will no longer be at the top table with the rest of his team.

Labour’s Ed Miliband hit out: “This is a massive failure of leadership.

“We were the COP26 hosts and now the UK PM will be missing in action.”

It means Mr Sunak’s first overseas trip is set to be with world leaders at the G20 in Bali next month.