Wokingham’s MP has slammed fellow Tory MP Alok Sharma over his criticism of Rishi Sunak’s announcement that he will not go to COP27. 

John Redwood said Mr Sharma, MP for Reading West and president of COP26, was “wrong” to criticise the PM – suggesting he should be “urging” China, the USA, and India to match the UK’s CO2 reductions. 

Mr Sharma told the Sunday Times that he is “disappointed” with Prime Minister Sunak’s decision not to personally attend the annual United Nations conference on climate change – which begins on November 6 in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. 

“I understand that he’s got a huge in-tray of domestic issues that he has to deal with. But I would say that going to COP27 would allow for engagement with other world leaders,” he said. 

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Mr Redwood tweeted that the PM was “right to concentrate on the budget and not fly to COP27” and suggested critics will think he is “weak” if he gives into pressure and changes his mind. 

However, the BBC has today reported that Mr Sunak could U-turn on No. 10’s announcement last week that he would not go “due to other pressing domestic commitments”, with sources close to the PM suggesting he ‘could still attend’.  

The Wokingham Liberal Democrats, which according to recent polls are predicted to win the Wokingham seat at the next election, argue that Mr Sunak is “weak for not going”.  

“Climate change is the biggest threat we all face, and he can’t do anything about it because he’s too busy trying to appease your nasty wing of your party,” the group replied to Mr Redwood.  

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At the annual summits, governments work to agree future steps that limit global temperature rises. After hosting the conference last year in Glasgow, the UK is the current holder of the COP presidency. 

COP26 president Mr Sharma and other ministers will attend on behalf of the UK, although Sunak’s potential absence has raised concerns over the UK’s commitment to addressing the climate crisis. 

Mr Redwood said it was “not the most difficult decision” for the new PM to make, claiming he “has work to do here rather than adding to international jet travel”. 

“It would be better if these conferences urg[ing] us all to travel less and to burn less fuel were more often conducted online to set an example on the issue of jet travel and to make their own contribution to reducing CO2,” he added 

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Opposition parties have also been critical of the PM’s decision, suggesting this year’s summit is ‘more important than ever’. 

The Wokingham Liberal Democrats called the government’s position on attending “embarrassing”, stating that the point of COP is that “everyone agrees to do their bit”. 

“The US passed a big bill on this recently while the Conservatives are arguing about just how far backwards we are going to go,” they added.