UK would be a climate leader again under Labour, vows Starmer

Sir Keir Starmer, centre, spent three days at the summit, meeting world leaders and ministers. In contrast, Rishi Sunak, spent 12 hours at the talks. Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PA

The UK will come back strongly to the world stage to “lead from the front” in tackling the climate crisis under a Labour government, Keir Starmer has pledged, after meeting world leaders at the Cop28 summit in Dubai.

“There’s an overwhelming feeling here among world leaders that they want to see the UK back playing a leading role,” he told the Guardian at the UN climate talks. “That’s why our statement of intent that under a Labour government we will be back playing a leading role has been really well received.