Quitting Tory Chris Skidmore will not again get together in by-election in swipe at PM
A former Tory local weather change tsar has mentioned he will not again the get together within the by-election triggered by his resignation.
Chris Skidmore delivered a dramatic hammer blow to Rishi Sunak final week when he introduced he was quitting as an MP in a protest over the PM’s local weather change rollback. In a brutal swipe he mentioned that Mr Sunak ought to face “the electoral consequences” of rowing again on Net Zero.
The former power minister is livid over the Government’s plans to drill extra oil and fuel within the North Sea – calling on Mr Sunak to tear up the controversial transfer. His resignation means there can be a by-election in his Kingswood constituency, anticipated on February 15.
Asked if he would encourage voters to again the Tories within the struggle for his previous seat, Mr Skidmore advised The Times: “I’m now independent and I’ve said clearly that I’m focusing on net zero. I’ve left party politics behind, I want to work with all political parties that prioritise the energy transition.” In one other headache for the PM, Mr Skidmore mentioned he is ready to work with Labour on environmental points.
And he advised ITV: “This is a catastrophe in the making.” And he continued: “It doesn’t really matter who wins the next general election, it doesn’t matter who wins the Kingswood by-election, what matters is whoever is in power commits to decarbonising and taking the climate needed for for because we’re running out of time.”
The MP, who has represented Kingswood in South Gloucestershire since 2010, gained his seat with a majority of 11,220 over Labour on the final election. That margin is much smaller than within the final two by-election upsets, when a 24,664 vote Tory majority was overturned by Labour in Mid Bedfordshire and 19,634 in Tamworth.
In a blistering resignation letter he mentioned the “future will judge harshly” anybody who backs the Offshore Petroleum Licensing Bill. “I can… no longer condone nor continue to support a government that is committed to a course of action that I know is wrong and will cause future harm,” he wrote within the excoriating assertion. “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.”
But Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho shot again, telling TImes Radio: “I completely reject his characterisation of our work, we’re going to be the first country in the G20 to halve our emissions since 1990. Secondly I wish him well in his next job but he’s made it very clear that his only concern is net zero, I actually have to look at the energy security of the country, making sure energy is affordable for people as well as looking at an energy transition and I believe we’re in the right place.”
Asked if she believes Mr Skidmore goes to take a task within the inexperienced lobbying business, she mentioned: “I’m sure we’ll find out in due course.”
