China’s president Xi Jinping is yet to confirm whether he will attend the Cop26 climate conference in Glasgow later this year, Cabinet minister Alok Sharma has admitted.
However, Mr Sharma told the BBC on Sunday that he was “very hopeful†that the country would send a negotiating team to the talks, which are seen as being crucial for agreeing substantial action to tackle the climate crisis.
“This is clearly a national security issue and unlike the labour supply crisis, where the government response to our sector has been disappointing to say the least, it has to be dealt with as a matter of urgency,†Mr Boparan said.
In response, Cabinet minister Alok Sharma told Times Radio: “When it comes to France, we will continue to have very close cooperation with them on security matters through Nato and through the Joint Expeditionary Force.
When pressed on whether he disagreed with the French minister’s claim, Mr Sharma added: “I don't see us having vassal status to anyone.â€.
Labour plans to open its own talks on a “new agreement†with the EU to end the post-Brexit crisis forcing musicians to abandon tours, in an attempt to pile pressure on the government to act.
Exclusive: Brussels will be asked to revive visa-waiver offer – to pile pressure on government to end its refusal to act?
COP26 president Alok Sharma has said he is “very, very hopeful†that China will send a negotiating team to the international climate crisis talks in Glasgow in November
Although Chinese president Xi Jinping has yet to confirm that he will attend the gathering, Mr Sharma told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show: “I am very, very hopeful that we will have a delegation from China that is coming
Alok Sharma acknowledged the move was “under discussion†on Sunday in response to a supply crisis, putting households at risk of higher bills
Ministers are considering axeing the energy price cap to stop soaring prices sending gas firms to the wall, a Cabinet minister has revealed
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