Chris Skidmore: Tory MP resigns over new oil and gas licences

Conservative MP Chris Skidmore has resigned as an MP over the government's energy plans, triggering a by-election to replace him.

The former minister said he could not continue as a Conservative MP before voting on a bill on Monday to guarantee annual oil and gas licensing rounds.

The Kingswood MP added that his “personal decision” meant his constituents deserved the chance to elect a new MP.

He had already announced plans to leave Parliament in the upcoming elections.

His seat near Bristol has a Conservative majority of 11,220, but was previously held by Labor from 1992 to 2010.

It will present another headache for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who is already facing a by-election in Wellingborough after local voters ousted scandal-hit Peter Bone.

In the October by-election, Labor ousted the Tories' majorities of 24,664 in Medfordshire and 19,634 in Tamworth.

The government announced the draft law in November, in an attempt to draw a dividing line with the Labor Party, which said it would not issue new licenses if it won power.

Ministers say the legislation, which will lock the annual North Sea fossil fuel license into law, will help improve the UK's energy security.

They argue that the UK will still need oil and gas to meet its energy needs, even if it reaches its target of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

But Mr Skidmore, who signed the UK's net zero commitment in 2050 into law as energy secretary under Theresa May, said the bill would send a “global signal that the UK is falling further back than ever on its climate commitments”.

He added in a statement on X, formerly Twitter, that this “will actually allow for more frequent new oil and gas licenses to be issued.”

He added that he could not support this in next week's vote, adding: “The future will judge harshly those who will support this.

“We cannot expect other countries to phase out fossil fuels while at the same time we continue to issue new licenses or open new oil fields.

He added: “It is a tragedy that the UK has been allowed to lose its climate leadership, at a time when our businesses, industries, universities and civil society organizations provide first-class leadership and expertise to so many around the world.”

Labour's shadow energy secretary, Ed Miliband, welcomed Skidmore's decision to resign, saying he “stands up to a desperate Conservative government”.

Liberal Democrat Treasury spokeswoman Sarah Olney said it was an “embarrassing mess for Rishi Sunak”, explaining that voters “simply don't trust the Conservatives on the environment”.

Carla Denyer, co-leader of the Green Party, said the decision left the government's green credentials “in tatters”.

Skidmore confirmed to the PA news agency that he will formally resign from his position as an MP when Parliament returns from its Christmas recess next week.

A date will be set for holding by-elections to replace him at a later date.