LABOUR accused Rishi Sunak of being “dragged kicking and screaming into an embarrassing U-turn” today after the Prime Minister reversed his decision not to attend a major climate summit next week.

The charge came after the former chancellor confirmed that he would now visit the UN’s two-week Cop27 event in Egypt, which starts on Sunday, saying there is “no long-term prosperity without action on climate change.”

The Tory leader had originally said that he was too focused on “depressing domestic issues” to travel to Sharm El-Sheikh, but after ex-PM Boris Johnson announced his intention to go, Mr Sunak has now performed a volte-face.

Downing Street claimed he had changed his mind after making “good progress” ahead of Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s autumn statement on November 17.

The “fiscal event” is aiming to undo some of the damage inflicted on the economy by the disastrous policies pursued by disgraced former premier Liz Truss, who pledged to use borrowed cash to fund tax cuts for the richest. 

Mr Sunak’s official spokesman said: “We wanted to make sure we were making good progress on the government’s domestic agenda and the autumn statement in particular.

“Following discussions with the Chancellor this week, the Prime Minister feels there is sufficient space to make this trip.”

But Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner accused the MP for Richmond in Yorkshire of having been “dragged kicking and screaming into doing the right thing” amid growing pressure from climate campaigners.

Shadow climate secretary Ed Miliband said that Mr Sunak had agreed to attend alongside other world leaders, including US President Joe Biden, to “avoid embarrassment, not to provide leadership — the guy is a phoney.

“[He] has been shamed into going by the torrent of disbelief that he would fail to turn up.

“Yet again we see a prime minister who only makes decisions for reasons of political management, not the national interest.”

Green MP Caroline Lucas tweeted: “Glad to see Sunak’s screeching U-turn on #COP27, but what an embarrassing misstep on the world stage.

“Let this be a lesson to him — climate leadership matters.”

Friends of the Earth’s Rachel Kennerley welcomed the rethink and urged the PM to “rebuild” Britain’s climate reputation.