Ex-minister Chris Skidmore resigns as MP sparking byelection

A TORY MP has announced he is quitting Parliament in protest at plans for fresh oil and gas drilling.

Chris Skidmore said he will resign from the Commons next week and trigger a byelection in his Kingswood constituency in Gloucestershire.

PA

Tory MP Chris Skidmore is quitting Parliament[/caption]

The former energy minister hit out at legislation that will allow new licences for fossil fuel production in the North Sea.

Rishi Sunak is formally introducing the Offshore Petroleum Licensing Bill in the Commons next week after announcing it in the King’s Speech.

He has insisted it will safeguard tens of thousands of jobs while also ensuring Britain does not rely on foreign tyrants like Putin for energy.

The PM has also hit back at claims he is wavering on the legally binding target to hit Net Zero by 2050.

But Mr Skidmore said in a statement: “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.

He went on: “To fail to act, rather than merely speak out, is to tolerate a status quo that cannot be sustained.”

Mr Skidmore holds an 11,000 majority, which Labour will be hoping to overturn in a byelection.