News / Politics
Kingswood Tory MP resigns over oil and gas bill
Chris Skidmore said he can “no longer stand by” as he announced his resignation from his post as Conservative MP for Kingswood in protest over the party’s energy plans.
The former energy minister said he quit due to an upcoming bill which would allow new oil and gas licences to be issued.
In a blistering exit statement, Skidmore called the bill a “tragedy” and accused the prime minister’s environmental stance as “wrong and will cause future harm”.
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“The climate crisis that we face is too important to politicise or to ignore,” he added.
Skidmore’s South Gloucestershire seat has a Conservative majority of 11,220 but was previously held by Labour from 1992 to 2010, with Labour coming second in 2019.
Chris Skidmore (right) has been an MP for Kingswood in Gloucestershire since 2010 – photo: South Gloucestershire Council
Rishi Sunak’s proposed energy bill – to be introduced in the House of Commons next week – will allow new fossil fuel extraction licences in the North Sea.
In a statement posted on X, Skidmore said: “As the former energy minister who signed the UK’s net zero commitment by 2050 into law, I cannot vote for a bill that clearly promotes the production of new oil and gas.
“To fail to act, rather than merely speak out, is to tolerate a status quo that cannot be sustained. I am therefore resigning my party whip and instead intend to be free from any party-political allegiance.”
Reacting to the statement, Caroline Lucas, Green MP for Brighton Pavilion, said: “Memo to Sunak – this is what principled politics looks like. A real pleasure working with @CSkidmoreUK on climate & he’ll be much missed. Huge indictment of Govt reckless maxing out fossil fuels.”
Ed Miliband, the shadow energy secretary, added: “Well done to Chris Skidmore for standing up to this desperate Conservative government. Their irresponsible, reckless attempt to double down on fossil fuels won’t cut bills, undermines energy security and is a climate disaster. That is why Labour will vote against it on Monday.”
Skidmore’s resignation from the South Glos seat, which is due to be abolished in upcoming boundary changes, will trigger a by-election – at least the eighth in a year.
Main photo: Gov.uk
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