Chris Skidmore to stand down as Conservative MP over ‘harmful’ oil and gas plans

Chris Skidmore has introduced his intention to “stand down” as a Conservative MP over the federal government’s determination to broaden oil and fuel licences.

Skidmore, who authored the Web Zero Assessment as the federal government’s de facto local weather tsar, issued an announcement on X (previously Twitter) saying he’ll stand down as an MP “as quickly as potential” over new laws set to be launched to the Home of Commons subsequent week.

The Offshore Petroleum Licensing Invoice, a centre piece of the King’s Speech final yr, he argues “clearly promotes the manufacturing of recent oil and fuel”.

He additionally revealed that he’ll instantly surrender the Conservative Celebration whip when the commons returns on Monday.

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Skidmore had already introduced his intention to face down as an MP on the subsequent election.

His assertion learn: “As the previous Power Minister who signed the UK’s web zero dedication by 2050 into regulation, I can’t vote for a invoice that clearly promotes the manufacturing of recent oil and fuel”.

It provides: “As fossil fuels grow to be extra out of date, increasing new oil and fuel licences or opening new oil fields will solely create stranded belongings of the long run, harming native and regional communities that ought to as a substitute be supported to transition their expertise and experience to renewable and clear power”.

“The Web Zero Assessment I printed a yr in the past subsequent week, Mission Zero, set out how web zero could be the financial alternative of this decade, if not our era, bringing with it lots of of hundreds of recent jobs, new progress, new regeneration and inward funding value lots of of billions of kilos. To attain this nevertheless requires long run dedication to the power transition, and a transparent and constant message to enterprise and trade that the UK is dedicated to local weather motion as a worldwide chief, because it has been for the previous 20 years.

“I can’t vote for the invoice subsequent week. The longer term will decide harshly those who do. At a time once we must be committing to extra local weather motion, we merely should not have any extra time to waste selling the long run manufacturing of fossil fuels that’s the final explanation for the environmental disaster that we face”.

It provides: “However I may also now not condone nor proceed to help a authorities that’s dedicated to a plan of action that I do know is mistaken and can trigger future hurt. To fail to behave, moderately than merely communicate out, is to tolerate a establishment that can’t be sustained. I’m due to this fact resigning my celebration whip and as a substitute intend to be free from any party-political allegiance.

“I’m deeply grateful for the privilege I’ve needed to serve in authorities throughout a number of departments, together with as Power Minister attending Cupboard, and to have been appointed because the Impartial Chair of the Web Zero Assessment. It’s practically fourteen years since I used to be first elected because the Member of Parliament for Kingswood, and I’m particularly grateful to my constituents for putting their repeated belief and religion in me. Firstly, my responsibility has been to serve them, as their elected consultant.

“It’s with that responsibility to them in thoughts as their consultant that my private determination as we speak means, as I’ve lengthy argued, that they deserve the best to elect a brand new Member of Parliament. I due to this fact can be standing down from Parliament as quickly as potential.

“It has been a outstanding and fantastic alternative to function a Member of Parliament for practically fourteen years, however I now intend to focus all my power and a focus on delivering web zero and the power transition”.

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