OPPOSITION politicians have been left fuming as the First Minister plans to travel to COP27 in the midst of a climate crisis.
The Scottish Sun reports that aides are drawing up plans for Nicola Sturgeon to head to the United Nations in New York in a fortnight’s time.
World leaders, including the new prime minister, will gather at the UN General Assembly – which starts on September 13 – although the Scottish Government does not have a formal role in proceedings, as with COP27.
It’s also believed that the First Minister aims to travel to Egypt for the COP27 climate summit in Cairo from November 7 to 18 - a year after the event was held in Glasgow.
Scottish Labour MSP Daniel Johnson said Sturgeon had “gone out of her way to do anything except her job” this summer which included “jetting off to the Scottish Government’s latest flag-waving outpost while litter piled up on the streets”.
Last month, Tories were left fuming as Nicola Sturgeon headed to Denmark to officially open the Scottish Government’s Nordic Office in a bid to create new trading and economic opportunities.
The COP27 climate conference comes following a summer which seen Scotland record its hottest ever day as temperatures climbed to 34.8C.
Johnson said: “As Scots face tarrying price hikes and a deadly winter, she (Sturgeon) is busy planning her world tour.
“Instead of trying to bolster her celeb status abroad, the First Minister needs to focus on helping Scots through the cost-of-living crisis wreaking havoc here and now.”
Scottish Tory MSP Sharon Dowey also expressed anger at the plans. She said: “It would be staggering if the First Minister were giving even the slightest thought to overseas jaunts so soon after going AWOL at the Edinburgh Festival.
“No one’s going to stop school or bin strikes in Scotland from the UN building in New York or get money to families struggling with energy bills by schmoozing foreign leaders at COP27 in Egypt.”
The Scottish Government did not deny that planning for the trips was underway although a spokesman said: “No such visits have been confirmed."
