Mr Johnson, who chose not to publicly criticise Mr Sunak’s initial refusal to appear, said in an interview aired on Tuesday night that he would be there to discuss “how we see things in the UK” given his “particular interest”.
“I was invited by the Egyptians, so I’m happy to go,” he told Sky News.
The prime minister’s official spokesman insisted that good progress on the November 17 autumn budget had changed Mr Sunak’s mind about attending the meeting.
“We want to make sure we are making good progress on the government’s domestic agenda, particularly the autumn announcement,” the spokesman said.
“After discussions with the Prime Minister this week, he has now agreed to attend. The Prime Minister believes there is ample room for this trip.”
Fake
Mr Sharma, who chaired Cop26 in Glasgow last year, welcomed Mr Sunak’s reversal, saying he “completely” agreed with his comments that climate action was needed to ensure long-term prosperity.
Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner said the U-turn was “embarrassing”, arguing Sunak had to be “kicked and screamed to do the right thing”.
It wasn’t until Friday that Mr Sunak argued to the broadcaster that he was “focused on the frustrating domestic challenges we face on the economic front” as he tried to justify not attending the meeting.
“I think that’s what people would reasonably expect from watching and I would do it, too,” he said.
Shadow climate secretary Ed Miliband said Mr Sunak had agreed to “avoid the embarrassment of not providing leadership” and seized on his language change, saying: “This guy is a liar.”
reputation
Mr Miliband added: “The Prime Minister is ashamed to go to Cop27 because he doesn’t believe he won’t show up.”
“Once again, we’re seeing a prime minister make decisions for reasons of political stewardship rather than national interest.”
Monday is a pivotal day for world leaders when high-level talks are scheduled and U.S. President Joe Biden is expected to attend.
Greens MP Caroline Lucas tweeted: “Great to see Sunak make a sudden U-turn at #COP27 but what an embarrassing blunder on the world stage. Let this be one of his Lesson – climate leadership matters.”
Friends of the Earth international climate campaigner Rachel Kennerly welcomed Mr Sunak “saw the sanity and decided to take part” and urged him to “rebuild” the UK’s climate reputation.
strike
Despite a U-turn on the 10th, the Kings are not planning to play Cop27.
A Buckingham Palace spokesman said there was “unanimous agreement” with the government that Charles, a longtime environmental activist, was not fit to leave.
Downing Street said that in Egypt, Mr Sunak wanted to make progress on a pledge to end deforestation by 2030 and forge a new partnership on clean and renewable energy.
A spokesman for Mr Sunak said he would not speak “pre-emptively” when asked if he would raise the jailing of Allah Abdel Fattah, a British-Egyptian democracy activist on a hunger strike.
“We are working to secure Alaa Abdel-Fattah’s release. We are taking his case to the highest levels of the Egyptian government,” the spokesman said.
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Sam Blewett and Emily Beament are PA reporters.Brendan Montague is the editor ecologist.
