Labour leader Kier Starmer was in Thurrock today to speak with families struggling with the cost-of-living crisis.
He was joined by shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson during a visit to Angel Cafe in All Saints Church, Beacon Centre in Chafford Hundred.
Taking to Twitter, the Labour leader said: “The Tories crashed our economy and families in Thurrock feel it. Soaring mortgages.
READ MORE
- Drug dealer caged after £140k of cocaine seized during Wickford raid
- Southend's last easyJet 2022 flight to take off - here's how long you'll have to wait for more
“Rising food prices. Parents cutting back. Labour will deliver fully funded breakfast clubs for every English primary school. Easing pressure on households. Supporting parents in their work.”
Speaking to reporters during the trip, Sir Keir Starmer also joined environmental campaigners in criticising Mr Sunak’s decision to miss the conference.
“I think many people would be expecting the Prime Minister of the UK, not just to attend Cop, but to use it as an opportunity to pull world leaders together to deal with the climate and to deal with energy,” he said during the visit to Thurrock.
“If I was Prime Minister, I would be going, I would be convening and pulling people together and sorting out the issues that are confronting people talking to people this morning who can’t pay their energy bills, they expect their Prime Minister to be on the world stage sorting these problems out.
“It’s an absolute failure of leadership.”
The UK hosted last year’s Cop26 summit in Glasgow, with then-PM Boris Johnson stressing the need to act by warning it was a “one minute to midnight moment”.
The Washington Post has reported that the US president will travel to Cop27, in a boost for the gathering and its chances of securing action over the climate crisis.
Rishi Sunak insisted he is “personally committed” to tackling the climate crisis after he pulled out of the United Nations conference next month that Liz Truss was due to attend.
Speaking to reporters during a visit to a south London hospital, the Prime Minister said: “The leadership that we have shown on the climate is unmatched almost along the world.
“It’s important to me that, as Prime Minister, we leave behind an environment that is better for our children and grandchildren. I’m very passionate about that. I’m very personally committed to it.
“I just think, at the moment, it’s right that I’m also focusing on the depressing domestic challenges we have with the economy.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here