Theresa May denies 'subservience' to Donald Trump over withdrawal from Paris climate deal
Jeremy Corbyn has accused the PM of "dereliction of duty" for not joining other European G7 members in protest at the decision.
Friday 2 June 2017 15:19, UK
Theresa May has denied she is subservient to Donald Trump amid claims she did not protest enough about the US leaving the Paris climate accord .
The Prime Minister has been criticised by Jeremy Corbyn, who accused her of opting "for silence" and being responsible for a "dereliction of duty".
Mr Trump sparked dismay and anger among world leaders by
Mrs May said she spoke to Mr Trump at the G7 summit last week and again last night, making the concerns of the UK known.
"The UK's position on the Paris agreement remains as it always has been," she said. "We believe this is an important international agreement on climate change.
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"The UK is one of the leading nations across the world on dealing with climate change. I made clear to President Trump, as did other G7 leaders, last week that we believe in the importance of the Paris agreement and we wanted the United States to remain within it.
"I spoke to President Trump again last night. I made it clear that the UK wanted the United States to stay within the Paris agreement and that we continue to support the Paris agreement."
Earlier, Mr Corbyn condemned her failure to join forces with the three other European G7 members in writing a letter to Mr Trump protesting about the US's actions.
The Labour leader said: "Why does Theresa May not have her name on this joint decision? Given the chance to have a united front with our European partners she's opted instead for silence, and once again subservience to Donald Trump."
Sir Simon Hughes, the Lib Dems' former deputy leader, also criticised Mrs May, saying: "Yet again, the UK Prime Minister appears unwilling to be critical on an issue of substance and just when our economy is going to depend more and more on renewable energy, which can really help with climate change."
Mr Trump announced the move in a news conference in the Rose Garden at the White House, saying he had made the decision "in order to fulfil my solemn duty to protect America and its citizens".
However, he said the US would begin negotiations to re-enter "either the Paris accord or an entirely new transaction" to "see if we can make a deal that's fair".
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In a joint statement, France, Germany and Italy said the climate deal could not be renegotiated.
French President Emmanuel Macron was damning, saying in a late-night TV address that the US had "turned its back on the world".
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the Trump move could not and would not "stop all those of us who feel obliged to protect the planet".
The environmental and scientific communities were also among those to react with dismay, with UK environmental law firm ClientEarth's chief executive James Thornton describing the move as an "act of vandalism".
Professor Venki Ramakrishnan, president of the Royal Society, said: "President Trump is not putting America first, he is tethering it to the past."
The White House claims the accord "is a BAD deal for Americans" and that by withdrawing Mr Trump will keep "his campaign promise to put American workers first".