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

RISHI Sunak will not be attending the Cop27 climate summit as he focuses on the autumn statement.

Cop President Alok Sharma is due to travel to Egypt next month to represent the government – despite losing his seat in the cabinet in the reshuffle of the new prime minister.

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Just two weeks ago, Mr Sharma told Egypt that former Prime Minister Liz Truss would attend.

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

“The prime minister is unlikely to attend the summit in Egypt due to other urgent domestic commitments, including preparations for the autumn declaration.

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

“They will work to ensure countries continue to make progress on the landmark commitments made at COP26 in Glasgow.

Just hours earlier, the new prime minister ousted Graham Stuart, the climate secretary, and Mr Sharma from the cabinet.

The pair will remain in their jobs but will no longer be at the helm with the rest of their team.

Labour’s Ed Miliband slammed: ‘This is a massive leadership failure.

“We were the hosts of COP26 and now the British Prime Minister will be absent from action.”

This means that Mr Sunak’s first foreign trip will be with world leaders next month at the G20 summit in Bali.