Whether or not Rishi Sunak will attend COP27 is “under review”, Downing Street has confirmed – because the PM faces mounting calls to attend the local weather convention in Egypt.
Asked if the prime minister can be attending the summit, a Number 10 spokesperson mentioned that “any attendance at COP would depend on progress on preparation for that fiscal event – and that work is ongoing”.
Last week, Downing Street mentioned the PM wouldn’t be attending the convention in Sharm el Sheikh subsequent month as he could be preoccupied with “other pressing domestic commitments, including preparations for the autumn budget”.
The spokesperson added: “The prime minister fully recognises the importance of the COP summit and is fully committed to addressing climate change.”
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Probed on whether or not this resolution might change, the spokesperson continued: “I think that the prime minister set out that the public would rightly want him to focus on the domestic issues, particularly on restoring fiscal credibility and delivering on a budget that works for the British people.
“There is substantial progress being made on that and so we’re retaining the place on COP underneath overview.”
Speaking to broadcasters on a go to to Croydon University Hospital on Friday, Mr Sunak reiterated this, insisting that he should deal with the “depressing domestic challenges” fairly than head to the local weather convention in Egypt.
But Labour chief Sir Keir Starmer accused Mr Sunak of displaying a “failure of leadership”.
“Britain showing up to work with world leaders is an opportunity to grasp. Not an event to shun,” he posted on social media.
Rebecca Newsom, head of politics at Greenpeace UK, accused Mr Sunak of not taking local weather change “seriously enough”.
While, over the weekend, the president of final yr’s summit Alok Sharma urged the PM dangers undermining Britain’s place as a world chief on inexperienced points if he shuns the convention.
“I’m pretty disappointed that the prime minister is not going. I understand that he’s got a huge in-tray of domestic issues that he has to deal with,” the federal government’s local weather tsar advised The Sunday Times.
“But I would say that going to COP27 would allow for engagement with other world leaders. And I think it does send a signal – if the prime minister was to go – about our renewed commitment on this issue.”
Mr Sharma, who misplaced his cupboard seat within the newest reshuffle, may even be there, together with US president Joe Biden and America’s particular envoy on local weather change, John Kerry.
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King Charles won’t attend COP27 in Egypt, Buckingham Palace says
A spokesperson for the Scottish authorities final week confirmed First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is planning to attend COP27.
“Given the vital importance of governments working together to tackle climate change, it is the first minister’s intention to attend COP27,” the spokesperson mentioned on Friday.
“Details of the ministerial programme are currently being finalised.”
Mr Sunak’s predecessor Liz Truss had been as a consequence of attend the summit which is because of happen from 6 to 18 November.
New Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s autumn funds – through which he’ll set out his authorities’s tax and spending plans – can be delivered on 17 November.
It has been reported that former PM Boris Johnson is planning to attend the summit to point out his assist for worldwide efforts to sort out local weather change.
Last week, Environment Secretary Therese Coffey defended Mr Sunak’s resolution to not go to COP27, insisting that defending the planet was “absolutely a priority for the government”.
While former enterprise secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg mentioned the PM was proper to not go to the summit, saying: “The cost of living won’t be solved in Sharm el Sheikh where each hotel room for the conference is £2,000 a night.”
But signalling a possible U-turn earlier on Monday, atmosphere minister Mark Spencer advised Sky News that Mr Sunak would go to COP27 “if he’s got time”, including that the prime minister has “an inbox which is full to the brim”.
Meanwhile, on Sunday it was introduced that King Charles will host a reception for key COP27 figures at Buckingham Palace on Friday, regardless of not attending the convention himself.
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The King, who has been a passionate campaigner on environmental points, will host the occasion which can carry collectively over 200 worldwide enterprise leaders, resolution makers and NGOs (non-governmental organisations) to mark the tip of the United Kingdom’s presidency of COP26 and sit up for the COP27 summit in Egypt.
The King has attended the UN local weather convention for various years and delivered one of many keynote speeches on the opening ceremony for COP26 in Glasgow – however won’t be going to Sharm el Sheikh.
Guests on the King’s Buckingham Palace reception will embody Mr Sunak, who is anticipated to talk briefly on the occasion.
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