A load of hot air! Burnham speaks to half-empty COP climate summit for six minutes while Sadiq Khan poses for selfies

Detailed summary

Andy Burnham spoke to a half-empty hall at the COP31 gathering in Turkey this morning, saying he wanted a 'new era of British leadership over the next decade'.

Published: 07:59 GMT, 12 November 2026 | Updated: 08:00 GMT, 12 November 2026

Andy Burnham told a UN climate summit the UK is committed to hitting Net Zero by 2050 today - despite an apparent shift in tone domestically.

The PM spoke to a half-empty hall at the COP31 gathering in Turkey this morning, saying he wanted a 'new era of British leadership over the next decade'.

During his speech to the United Nations Cop31 summit in Turkey, he warned that the 'climate crisis is upon all of us now' after a 'not normal' summer of extreme heat, wildfires and drought.

Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband and London Mayor Lord Khan were among the sparse audience for Mr Burnham's address.

The premier is facing questions over why he has jetted off to the talking shop - which every other G7 leader has skipped.

France's Emmanuel Macron, Italy's Giorgia Meloni and Canada's Mark Carney are all staying away. Donald Trump is not even sending officials after pulling out of the Paris Agreement.

Andy Burnham told a UN climate summit the UK is committed to hitting Net Zero by 2050 today - despite an apparent shift in tone domestically

The PM spoke to a half-empty hall at the COP31 gathering in Turkey this morning, saying he wanted a 'new era of British leadership over the next decade'

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