‘Cost of living will not be solved in Sharm El-Sheikh’
RISHI Sunak said yesterday he must focus on “depressing domestic challenges” rather than attend the Cop27 climate summit.
The Prime Minister insisted he was “personally committed” to tackling global warming, despite pulling out of next month’s United Nations conference in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.
His predecessor, Liz Truss, had promised to attend, but Mr Sunak said he believed it was “right” to instead focus on the UK economy before Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s autumn Budget on November 17.
On a visit to Croydon University Hospital, south London, he said: “The leadership that we have shown on the climate is unmatched almost along the world. It’s important to me that we leave behind an environment that is better for our children and grandchildren. “I’m personally committed to it.
“I just think, at the moment, it’s right that I’m also focusing on the depressing domestic challenges we have with the economy. I think that’s what people watching would reasonably expect me to be doing as well.” Mr Sunak came under fire from all sides of the Commons when he announced he was not attending the summit.
But Jacob Rees-Mogg, who quit as Energy Secretary when Mr Sunak became Prime Minister, said he was “right not to go”. Mr Rees-Mogg said: “The cost of living won’t be solved in Sharm El-Sheikh, where each hotel room for the conference is £2,000 a night.”
Environment Secretary Therese Coffey said Mr Sunak would show “global leadership”. Downing Street revealed for the first time yesterday that King Charles had been advised by Ms Truss’s government not to attend the summit.