UK’s Sunak U-turns and says he will go to COP27 in Egypt

UK’s Sunak U-turns and says he will go to COP27 in Egypt

London - UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Wednesday announced he will attend the UN climate change conference, reversing an initial decision not to go because of "pressing domestic commitments".

"There is no long-term prosperity without action on climate change. There is no energy without investing in renewables," he wrote on Twitter.

"That is why I will attend @COP27P next week: to deliver on Glasgow's legacy of building a secure and sustainable future."

Sunak's original decision not to attend the gathering in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh drew the ire of environmental campaigners.

But a U-turn was hinted at on Tuesday when his spokesman said the decision was "under review" and after reports that Boris Johnson would attend.

Johnson, who hosted last year's COP26 meeting in Glasgow, on Tuesday night confirmed he would be in Egypt after receiving an invitation from the hosts.

That led many political commentators to conclude Sunak would be forced into going, to avoid being upstaged by his controversial predecessor.

There has been bad blood between the pair since Sunak triggered Johnson's downfall by quitting as his finance minister in July.

Johnson blamed Sunak for causing the resignation of dozens of others in government and pointedly supported Liz Truss in the race