PM denies subservience in climate change row

Theresa May insists the UK is committed to Paris Agreement after US pulls out

Theresa May has insisted the UK is committed to the Paris Agreement on climate change as she faced criticism over her response to US withdrawal from the deal.

A decision by President Donald Trump to pull the US out of the world’s first comprehensive accord on tackling climate change and seek renegotiated terms that are “fair” to America has drawn widespread international condemnation.

A statement issued by the leaders of France, Germany and Italy said the deal cannot be renegotiated, and that they remain committed to the “irreversible” accord and regard it as “a cornerstone in the cooperation between our countries, for effectively and timely tackling climate change”.

In a phone call with the US President shortly after his White House announcement, Mrs May expressed her “disappointment” at the move and stressed the UK remains committed to the landmark 2015 agreement to curb greenhouse gas emissions.

But she faced fierce criticism for failing to add her name to the joint statement by President Emmanuel Macron, Chancellor Angela Merkel and Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn labelled Mr Trump’s move to withdraw from the Paris Agreement as “reckless and dangerous” and accused Mrs May of “subservience” and a failure of leadership in not signing up to the statement.

Mrs May said: “I made the UK’s position clear to president Trump last week at the G7 meeting, as did the other G7 leaders, and I made the position clear to President Trump last night.”

Picture: AP. Greenpeace activists dressed as penguins hold a sign “Homeless penguins looking for some ice” in protest at the US government’s exit from the Paris climate deal at the US Embassy in Bern, Switzerland.

Donald Trump is accused of being reckless by Jeremy Corbyn.