Rishi Sunak may now go to COP27 climate summit after rumours Boris Johnson could attend
RISHI Sunak could now go to the COP27 climate - after reports former PM Boris Johnson might attend.
Last week Downing Street insisted that he won't be going to the global eco gathering - saying he was too busy preparing for the Autumn Statement.
That triggered an outcry from some MPs who said he should go to show global leadership on the environment.
Downing Street said today that the PM's attendance was "under review".
Liz Truss was due to attend the global gathering in Egypt next month, before she was forced to quit as PM.
And over the weekend it emerged that Boris Johnson, the former PM, may attend.
Sources close to the former PM last night refused to comment.
But his Dad Stanley Johnson told GB News he hopes his son will go.
COP chief Alok Sharma, who was demoted from the Cabinet by Mr Sunak last week, hit out at the new PM for not going to the gathering, where US President Joe Biden and France's Macron are also expected to go.
He said: “I’m pretty disappointed that the prime minister is not going...
“But I would say that going to Cop27 would allow for engagement with other world leaders. And I think it does send a signal — if the prime minister was to go — about our renewed commitment on this issue.”
Asked on BBC Breakfast whether the prime minister could attend, Environment Minister Mark Spencer said Mr Sunak had "a huge inbox", of challenges to deal with.
He said: "His focus at the moment is dealing with the autumn statement and the government's response to those global challenges...
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"I'm sure if his diary allows he would want to go but at this moment in time don't quite know if he's going to be have time to do that.
"But rest assured there'll be serious ministers out there and big hitters because the UK's very keen to play its part in dealing with the challenges we face in the environment globally."
Asked if he would like to see Mr Sunak attend, Mr Spencer said: "If he's got time to do that."
