May denies being 'subservient' to Trump over climate deal exit
Jeremy Corbyn has accused Theresa May of "subservience" to Donald Trump over his decision to withdraw the US from the Paris Accord on climate change.
The Labour leader criticised Mrs May for not signing a letter to Mr Trump issued by the leaders of France, Germany and Italy, which said the deal cannot be renegotiated and reaffirmed their commitment to the accord.
There has been international condemnation of Mr Trump's decision, which he justified by claiming that the Paris deal allows countries such as China and India to carry on polluting at the expense of the US economy and jobs.
At an election campaign event in York, Mr Corbyn said: "Given the chance to present a united front from our international partners she [Mrs May] has instead opted for silence and once again subservience to Donald Trump.
"It's a dereliction of both her duty to this country and our duty to our planet."
Mrs May responded to the criticism saying Canada and Japan had not signed the letter either, but all three countries have the same view that they remain committed to the deal.
She said: "I've made the UK's position on the Paris Agreement very clear. We remain committed to the Paris Agreement.
"It's an important international agreement on climate change.
"I made the UK's position clear to president Trump last week at the G7 meeting, as did the other G7 leaders, and I made the position clear to president Trump last night."
In a phone call with the US president shortly after his White House announcement, the Prime Minister said she was "disappointed" in his decision and stressed that the UK remained committed to the 2015 agreement, which aims to limit the rise in global temperatures caused by the use of carbon-based fuels by 2C.
Mrs May continued that the Paris Agreement provides "the right global framework for protecting the prosperity and security of future generations, while keeping energy affordable and secure for our citizens and businesses", a Downing Street spokesperson said.
Video report by ITV News Washington Correspondent Robert Moore
Declaring their "regret" at Mr Trump's move, President Emmanuel Macron, chancellor Angela Merkel and Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni said they remained committed to the "irreversible" accord and regarded it as "a cornerstone in the co-operation between our countries, for effectively and timely tackling climate change".
Speaking about the statement the French President Macron said: "There is no plan B because there is no planet B."
Turning Mr Trump's slogan against him, continued that France would continue the fight to "Make our planet great again".
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Mr Macron issued an appeal to American climate change scientists, engineers and entrepreneurs to come to France to continue their work.
"They will find in France a second homeland," he said.
"I call on them. Come and work here with us, work together on concrete solutions for our climate, our environment. I can assure you, France will not give up the fight."
The Paris agreement was hailed as a landmark when it was passed, with almost 200 countries pledging to follow it.
As well as the leaders of the four European countries, political leaders from across the globe have reacted with condemnation and shock after Donald Trump confirmed the US will abandon the landmark global climate change deal.
Condemnation of President Trump's decision came from within the United States as well as outside of it, with his predecessor, Barack Obama, who signed up to the deal alongside 194 other countries in 2015, disapproving of Mr Trump's choice.
Mr Obama bemoaned the "absence of American leadership" that had seen the US join "a small handful of nations that reject the future".
While former secretary of state John Kerry said the "big mistake" was a "self-destructive step that puts our nation last".
The US president, who had pledged to quit the deal during last year's election campaign, has said he will instead seek a better deal for US workers.
Mr Trump has previously described climate change as a hoax by the Chinese to damage US manufacturing.
However, prior to Mr Trump's announcement, China said it will work with the EU to uphold the international agreement even if the US withdrew.
China's Premier Li Keqiang said fighting climate change is an "international responsibility", adding: "It's not invented by China... and we realise that this is a global consensus agreement."
In a statement, the European Commission reaffirmed its backing of the Paris Accord: "The world can continue to count on Europe for global leadership in the fight against climate change.
"Together, we will stand by the Paris Agreement, we will implement the Paris Agreement."
Climate commissioner Miguel Arias Canete added that the EU "deeply regrets" Mr Trump's decision and will seek new alliances around the world - including among American supporters of the accord - to ensure that the agreement's provisions are implemented.