Why is Keir Starmer bothering with COP?

PM Keir Starmer flies to the Brazilian rainforest for the COP30 climate conference, a trip he almost biffed off, but the surge in polling support for the Green party may have changed his mind.  

He’ll join Prince William and the King out in the Amazon – at the same time as considering rolling back on some of the government’s climate commitments. 

Back home, Chancellor Rachel Reeves faces criticism over her warnings for the next budget, while she brings in experts to school Labour MPs on how budgets, debts, and deficits actually work.  

And there’s a mini recess for Westminster, so Sam and Anne have an extra few days off. They return on Monday.