Glasgow's Cop26 'will go ahead in person despite Covid pressures'

Cop26 president Alok Sharma has said he is confident the Glasgow conference will go ahead in person despite rising Covid cases in Scotland.

Less than a month before the environmental conference is due to take place, the Scottish Government has officially requested help from the army to support Scotland’s ambulance service amid deteriorating response times.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the crisis in the ambulance service is “largely caused by Covid pressure”.

Sharma told the BBC’s Andrew Marr show that he is confident the talks will go ahead as planned.

“I am confident that we are going to have a physical Cop26, we are planning for that,” he said.

“What’s vitally important is that the people who are coming are safe but also that the people of Glasgow are safe.”

He added: “I am confident it’s going to be a safe event.”

Delegates attending the conference who have not yet received their Covid jabs have also been offered to be vaccinated, Sharma added.

When pressed about how he is going to handle the thousands of activists planning to protest during Cop26, Sharma said: “People have the right to protest, but they should do it in a way that shouldn’t disrupt other people’s lives.”