Rishi Sunak to attend COP27 after U-turn on decision
Rishi Sunak leaving no10 to attend Prime Minister’s questions.
The new Prime Minister has made his first U-Turn in number 10 as he will now attend COP27 in Egypt.
After being voted as the new leader of the Conservative party, Rishi Sunak has had an eventful start to life as Prime Minister. He’s had to build an almost entire new cabinet and said that he was not going to the COP27 summit in Egypt.
Number 10 had given the reason that Rishi Sunak was preoccupied and too busy with preparations for the budget and economic statement that will be released on the delayed date of November 17th.
The decision for the Prime Minister to snub the event had come under serious scrutiny from opposition parties and climate change activists who were outraged at the fact the UK would have such poor representation at the summit.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer was quick to criticise Sunak on Twitter as he tweeted: “Caving in to criticism is not leadership. Real leadership is seizing your seat at the table.”
The labour leader also added a personal jibe at the Prime Minister adding: “Rishi Sunak acts in the name of political management. Labour acts in the national interest.” These words come after repeated calls for a general election throughout this week.
Earlier on the week former Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed he would be attending the climate change conference in Sharm El-Sheikh in Egypt.
Many of the world leaders will attend the event including the US President Joe Biden and France’s President Emmanuel Macaron. Liz Truss had been all set for the trip to Egypt before stepping down.
Nicola Sturgeon the first minister of Scotland will also be there after Scotland’s success of holding the previous COP event in 2021.
There had been widespread disappointment at Rishi Sunak’s decision not to attend COP27, with the event chairmen Alok Sharma saying he was “disappointed” the PM wouldn’t make an appearance. Following Sunak’s change of heart, Sharma tweeted that he is now “Delighted” at the Prime Ministers plans to attend.
African Ministers of Finance Economy and Environment meeting for COP27
The Egyptian government who are hosting the summit also expressed disappointment in the Prime Ministers plans to miss COP27 and the ambassador to the UN for Belize, Carlos Fuller said that the UK were “washing their hands of leadership” in an interview with the guardian.
Downing Street said there was “significant progress” being made on the budget and that it will still be delivered on November 17th despite the attendance of the PM at COP17.