Rishi Sunak U-turns on COP27: Will Attend After Boris Confirmed
Sunak Reverses Decision After Tory Backlash
Under mounting pressure, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has done a rapid about-face. After Boris Johnson confirmed he would attend the COP27 climate summit, Sunak ditched his initial refusal and announced he will now make the trip.
Sunak tweeted, “There is no long-term prosperity without action on climate change. That is why I will be attending the @COP27P next week: to deliver on Glasgow’s legacy of building a safe and sustainable future.“
Earlier Snub Sparks Tory Fury
Sunak’s original claim that he was too busy focusing on domestic issues during his first weeks in office to attend the UN climate talks caused a stir among Conservative MPs. The PM’s absence was widely seen as a political misstep, handing opponents ammunition.
Adding fuel to the fire, Boris Johnson revealed he’d accepted an invitation from Egypt and planned to attend COP27. Speaking to Sky News, Johnson said, “I was invited by the Egyptians therefore I’m quite glad to go.“
Campaigners Slam Sunak’s ‘Embarrassing’ Flip-Flop
Green MP Caroline Lucas was quick to respond. She said she was “pleased to witness Sunak’s furious U-turn on #COP27,” but slammed it as an “embarrassing misstep on the world stage.”
“Let this be a lesson to him: climate leadership is important. Now he must swiftly enhance the UK’s ambition on emission reduction objectives and pay what we owe to global climate money.”
