Thér?se Coffey defends Rishi Sunak decision to miss Cop27 after PM accused of 'failure of leadership' - UK politics live

Environment secretary insists climate crisis still a priority for the government after criticism from opposition partiesGood morning. The environment secretary Thér?se Coffey has defended Rishi Sunak's decision not to attend the Cop27 climate summit, after the prime minister was accused of a "massive failure of leadership".Coffey insisted the climate issue is "very much a priority" for the new government despite Downing Street's announcement yesterday that Sunak would skip the United Nations climate conference in Egypt next month and instead focus on "pressing domestic commitments".The big push happened last year in Glasgow. I am not aware of, say, President Biden or President Macron or any of those other people will be there. It is quite standard practice that every five years is the big political gathering.This is a massive failure of climate leadership. We were the Cop26 hosts and now the UK Prime Minister isn't even bothering to turn up to Cop27.I think we're still working out the programme, but there are events that happen for a variety of ministers, whether it's about energy or water, or the combination with nature.I think, me personally, I think I'm going to be there for a couple of days. It's my understanding other ministers will be there because the days in a Cop tend to have themes. Continue reading...