Tory MP Chris Skidmore Quits Parliament Over Oil and Gas Drilling Plans

Former energy minister Chris Skidmore has announced that he will be resigning from Parliament next week in protest over plans for new oil and gas drilling. His decision will trigger a byelection in his Kingswood constituency in Gloucestershire.

Skidmore Criticizes Legislation Allowing New Licences for Fossil Fuel Production

In his statement, Skidmore expressed his opposition to the Offshore Petroleum Licensing Bill, which will be introduced by Rishi Sunak in the Commons next week. He argued that the bill promotes the production of new oil and gas, a stance he cannot support as the former energy minister who signed the UK's net zero commitment into law.

Prime Minister Johnson Defends Stance on Net Zero Target

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has faced criticism for allegedly wavering on the legally binding target to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. However, he has defended his commitment to the target and emphasized the importance of not relying on foreign sources, such as Putin's Russia, for energy.

Labour Aims to Overturn Skidmore's 11,000 Majority in Byelection

With Skidmore's resignation, Labour will be hoping to overturn his 11,000 majority in the upcoming byelection for the Kingswood constituency. The result of the byelection will be closely watched as an indication of public sentiment on the issue of oil and gas drilling.