Claire O’Neill, the president of United Nations climate summit COP26, taking place in Glasgow this November, has been dismissed.
O’Neill is former energy minister, and was in charge of organising the 2020 edition of the major climate conference. She was in the role of president for six months.
She announced the dismissal in a tweet which read: “Very sad that that the role I was offered by @BorisJohnson last year has now been rescinded as Whitehall “can’t cope” with an Indy cop unit. A shame we haven’t had one Climate cabinet meeting since we formed. Wishing the cop team every blessing in the climate recovery emergency.”
The Times reported that O’Neill is looking into suing the government as a result of the dismissal.
It claims that O’Neill allegedly told friends Johnson gave three different reasons for her sacking, and that she is considering legal action if she does not receive a proper explanation.
The Cabinet Office said in a statement: “The prime minister is grateful to Claire for her work preparing for what will be a very successful and ambitious climate change summit in Glasgow in November.
“Preparations will continue at pace for the summit, and a replacement will be confirmed shortly. Going forward, this will be a ministerial role.”
