Ex-UK Energy Minister Skidmore Resigns as MP in Setback for Sunak
- Former energy minister quits in protest at oil and gas policy
- Raises prospect of another tricky by-election for ruling party
Chris Skidmore
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A former UK energy minister resigned from the governing parliamentary Conservative Party in protest at Rishi Sunak’s plan to allow further oil and gas drilling, a fresh setback for the prime minister as he prepares for a general election later this year.
Chris Skidmore, who signed Britain’s net zero commitment by 2050 into law, said he could “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 further harm.” In the statement on X, formerly Twitter, he said he would stand down as a Member of Parliament “as soon as possible.”