Rishi Sunak’s first U-turn as PM

Just over a week into Rishi Sunak’s premiership and the new prime minister has performed his first government U-turn. After Downing Street initially said Sunak would not attend the COP27 climate summit as he was too busy preparing for the 17 November Autumn statement, he will now go. Announcing the decision on social media, Sunak said: ‘There is no long-term prosperity without action on climate change. There is no energy security without investing in renewables. That is why I will attend COP27 next week: to deliver on Glasgow’s legacy of building a secure and sustainable future’.

So, what’s behind the change of heart? There have been signs since the weekend that Sunak could go after all. The Prime Minister faced criticism from his own climate adviser Alok Sharma for skipping out on the event in Egypt. Meanwhile, Sunak’s predecessor Boris Johnson had made it clear he would attend – firing a potshot at those in the Tory party for whom last year’s COP26 had become unfashionable.