Responding to reports the Prime Minister will travel to Glasgow today, former Climate Change Secretary and Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said: “If Boris Johnson is really serious about getting a good deal at COP26 he should be going to Beijing not Glasgow.
“There is still time for a good deal for the planet, but there is an awfully long way to go, especially to persuade China to go the extra mile.
“The Prime Minister should therefore focus diplomatic efforts on President Xi – with the carrot of a climate progress dividend and the stick of new carbon taxes on Chinese imports into the UK and other western countries.
“The UK must unite the West to get China into a better place. If Glasgow’s COP fails, we will be letting down future generations and the sense of anger and frustration in our country will be palpable. Failure is not an option.”