The Right Honourable
Chris Skidmore
OBE FRHistS FSA FRSA
Official portrait, 2017
Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation
In office
10 September 2019 – 13 February 2020
Prime MinisterBoris Johnson
Preceded byJo Johnson
Succeeded byMichelle Donelan[lower-alpha 1]
Amanda Solloway[lower-alpha 2]
In office
5 December 2018 – 24 July 2019
Prime MinisterTheresa May
Preceded bySam Gyimah
Succeeded byJo Johnson
Minister of State for Health
In office
24 July 2019 – 10 September 2019
Prime MinisterBoris Johnson
Preceded byStephen Hammond
Succeeded byEdward Argar
Interim Minister of State for Energy and Clean Growth[lower-alpha 3]
In office
20 May 2019 – 24 July 2019
Prime MinisterTheresa May
Preceded byClaire Perry
Succeeded byKwasi Kwarteng
Parliamentary Secretary for the Constitution
In office
17 July 2016 – 8 January 2018
Prime MinisterTheresa May
Preceded byJohn Penrose
Succeeded byChloe Smith
Member of Parliament
for Kingswood
In office
6 May 2010 – 8 January 2024
Preceded byRoger Berry
Succeeded byTBD
Personal details
Born (1981-05-17) 17 May 1981
Longwell Green, Avon, England
Other political
affiliations		Conservative (1996-2024)[3]
EducationBristol Grammar School
Alma materChrist Church, Oxford (BA)
Websitechrisskidmore.com

Christopher James Skidmore OBE FRHistS FSA FRSA (born 17 May 1981) is a British former Conservative Party politician, and author of popular history who served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Kingswood in South Gloucestershire from 2010 until his resignation in 2024.[4][5]

Skidmore was first elected at the 2010 general election. As a backbencher, he joined the Free Enterprise Group of Conservative MPs, founded by Liz Truss, and co-authored a number of papers and books, including After the Coalition (2011) and Britannia Unchained (2012). Following Theresa May's appointment as Prime Minister in July 2016, he was appointed Parliamentary Secretary for the Constitution; he was removed from this position in the January 2018 reshuffle, becoming vice-chairman of the Conservative Party for Policy. He returned to government in December 2018 as Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation following Sam Gyimah's resignation. He was the Interim Minister of State for Energy and Clean Growth from May to July 2019, covering for Claire Perry. In this position, he signed the UK's Net Zero pledge into law.[6]

Following Boris Johnson's appointment as Prime Minister in July 2019, he was appointed Minister of State for Health. He returned to his former position of Universities Minister in September 2019 following Jo Johnson's resignation; Skidmore was dismissed from government in the February 2020 reshuffle and returned to the backbenches. In September 2022, he was appointed by the Truss government to chair the Government Review of Net Zero.[7]

On 5 January 2024, Skidmore announced that he would resign his Parliamentary seat in protest at the introduction of the Offshore Petroleum Licensing Bill.[8]

Early life and education

Skidmore was born on 17 May 1981[9] in Longwell Green, Avon. In 1996, as a teenager, he became a member of the Conservative Party.[10] Skidmore was educated at Bristol Grammar School, an independent day school, before attending Christ Church, Oxford, graduating in 2002 with a first-class degree in Modern History (BA). In 2001, he served as President of the Oxford Reform Club, whose ex-members include Liz Truss and Olly Robbins.[11]

Skidmore worked for David Willetts and Michael Gove as an advisor, and served as chairman of the Bow Group for 2007–08,[12] before being appointed by another right-leaning think tank, Policy Exchange, as a research fellow.[13] He is the author of four books on medieval and Tudor history.[14]

Parliamentary career

After being selected to contest the marginal seat of Kingswood for the Conservatives in 2009, he was elected as its Member of Parliament at the 2010 general election, defeating incumbent Roger Berry of the Labour Party.[15]

Skidmore served as a member of the Health Select Committee, leaving that committee on 17 June 2013 (being replaced by Charlotte Leslie),[16] to sit on the Education Select Committee.[17] He is also a member of the Free Enterprise Group of MPs, founded by Liz Truss, and along with Truss, Priti Patel, Kwasi Kwarteng and Dominic Raab, he co-authored After the Coalition (2011) and Britannia Unchained (2012).[18]

He was re-elected with an increased majority at the general election in 2015 and became Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Chancellor of the Exchequer.[19]

From 2016 to 2018, Skidmore was Parliamentary Secretary for the Constitution.[20] Following the 2018 cabinet reshuffle, he was sacked from this role but given the role of vice-chairman of the Conservative Party for policy.[21]

Skidmore was named by the ConservativeHome website in 2012 as one of a minority of loyal Conservative backbench MPs not to have voted against the government in any significant rebellions.[22]

Skidmore was opposed to Brexit prior to the 2016 EU membership referendum.[23] In February 2018, he argued in a speech to the Centre for Policy Studies that his party needed a broad and positive policy programme to gain wider support, further stating: "If we are just going to talk about Brexit then the Conservative Party will rapidly decline".[24]

Skidmore was appointed Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation on 5 December 2018, following Sam Gyimah's resignation over the government's Brexit policy.[25]

On 27 June 2019, as Interim Minister for Energy and Clean Growth, Skidmore signed the UK's Net Zero Pledge into law, becoming the first major economy to do so.[26]

Following the appointment of Boris Johnson as Prime Minister in July 2019, Skidmore was moved to the Department for Health and Social Care, serving as the Minister of State for Health. After the resignation of Jo Johnson from cabinet, Skidmore re-assumed his position of minister of state for universities, science, research and innovation in September 2019. However, he was dismissed from government and replaced by Michelle Donelan as Minister of State for Universities and Amanda Solloway as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Science, Research and Innovation in the cabinet reshuffle of February 2020.

Skidmore submitted a letter of no confidence in Boris Johnson on 6 July 2022 during mass resignations of government ministers.[27] He initially supported Rishi Sunak in the July–September 2022 Conservative Party leadership election, but changed his support to Liz Truss.[28]

Net zero

On 26 September 2022 Skidmore launched the Net Zero Review, pledging to use the review to focus on the UK's fight against climate change while maximising economic growth to ensure energy security and affordability for consumers and businesses.[29]

On 19 October 2022, Skidmore put out a statement on Twitter, in advance of a debate on fracking, saying that "[a]s the former Energy Minister who signed Net Zero into law", he could not vote "to support fracking and undermine the pledges I made at the 2019 General Election". The government was reportedly treating this vote as a confidence vote, putting Skidmore at risk of losing the Conservative Party whip.[30][31]

On 16 January 2023, Skidmore published "Mission Zero", the final report of the Net Zero Review.[32] The 340 page report contained 129 recommendations on how to deliver the UK's net zero commitments. The report was published just weeks after Chris Skidmore declared he had taken up a paid role (£80,000 per annum) as adviser to the "Emissions Capture Company", for providing advice on the global energy transition and decarbonisation.[33]

In June 2023, it was announced that Skidmore had been appointed to a professorship at the University of Bath to undertake research on sustainability and climate change.[34][35]

Resignation

On 26 November 2022, Skidmore announced that he would not seek re-election as an MP at the next general election, later stating in Parliament that "my constituency of Kingswood is being formally abolished in the boundary changes and there is nowhere for me to go."[36][37][38]

In the event, Skidmore announced on 5 January 2024 that he would resign his parliamentary seat in protest at the introduction of the Offshore Petroleum Licensing Bill, describing the relaxation of net zero targets as "the greatest mistake of [Rishi Sunak's] premiership".[39][40] On 8 January, Skidmore formally submitted his resignation as an MP,[4] which was effected on the same day by his appointment as Steward of the Chiltern Hundreds.[41] In response to Skidmore's resignation statement, Karl McCartney, Tory MP for Lincoln, tweeted: "A now 'former colleague', who was gifted various positions, ahead of many better, well-qualified, and collegiate colleagues, dumps on all from a great height. Once more, another non-Conservative handpicked as part of [David] Cameron's A List."[42]

Honours

Bibliography

  • Edward VI: The Lost King of England (2007) ISBN 9780312351427
  • Death and The Virgin: Elizabeth, Dudley and the Mysterious Fate of Amy Robsart (2010) ISBN 9780297846505
  • Bosworth: The Birth of the Tudors (2013) ISBN 9780753828946 (published in the United States as The Rise of the Tudors: The Family That Changed English History, 2014)
  • Richard III: Brother, Protector, King (2017) ISBN 9780297870784

Notes

  1. ↑ As Minister of State for Universities.
  2. ↑ As Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Science, Research and Innovation.
  3. ↑ Claire Perry went on leave of absence from 20 May 2019 with Skidmore taking over in the interim until he was replaced by Kwasi Kwarteng when Boris Johnson became Prime Minister.[1][2]

References

  1. ↑ "Energy Minister Claire Perry takes leave of absence". Energy Live News. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  2. ↑ https://www.gov.uk/government/people/chris-skidmore
  3. ↑ https://twitter.com/CSkidmoreUK/status/1743324376479486007?t=rh0MCe2nt9CnV83mqod5ow&s=19
  4. 1 2 "By-election triggered by Chris Skidmore as Tory climate rebel quits parliament". The Independent. 8 January 2024. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  5. ↑ "Paul Waugh".
  6. ↑ "UK becomes first major economy to pass net zero emissions law".
  7. ↑ Chair of the Net Zero review since September 2022
  8. ↑ "Chris Skidmore: Tory MP quits over oil and gas licences". BBC News. 5 January 2024. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  9. ↑ "Chris Skidmore MP". Democracy Live. BBC. Archived from the original on 24 February 2016. Retrieved 25 July 2010.
  10. ↑ "Chris Skidmore". Conservative Party. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  11. ↑ "Kwarteng IEA fringe event hints at how deeply thinktank is embedded in No 10 | Conservative conference 2022 | The Guardian". amp.theguardian.com. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  12. ↑ Bow Group
  13. ↑ "Chris Skidmore MP". Policy Exchange. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
  14. ↑ "Chris Skidmore Books". www.hachette.com.au. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  15. ↑ "Kingswood". BBC News. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
  16. ↑ "Health Committee – membership". UK Parliament. Archived from the original on 3 July 2013.
  17. ↑ "Membership - Education Committee". UK Parliament. Archived from the original on 2 July 2013.
  18. ↑ Kwarteng, Kwasi; Patel, Priti; Raab, Dominic; Skidmore, Chris; Truss, Liz (2012). Britannia Unchained: Global Lessons for Growth and Prosperity. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. p. 61. ISBN 978-1-137-03223-2. Archived from the original on 7 August 2022. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
  19. ↑ "David Cameron gives Bristol and South Gloucestershire MPs junior government roles". Bristol Post. 2 June 2015. Archived from the original on 23 July 2015. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  20. ↑ "Parliamentary Secretary (Minister for the Constitution)". GOV.UK. Archived from the original on 22 January 2017.
  21. ↑ Wheeler, Brian (10 January 2018). "May buying MPS' support, claims Labour MP". BBC News.
  22. ↑ Barrett, Matthew (14 September 2012). "The 24 Conservative MPs who are still on the backbenches and have never rebelled". ConservativeHome. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
  23. ↑ Goodenough, Tom (16 February 2016). "Which Tory MPs back Brexit, who doesn't and who is still on the fence?". The Spectator. Archived from the original on 3 February 2017. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
  24. ↑ Daly, Patrick (5 March 2018). "What the Tories have to do to defeat 'ruthless' Jeremy Corbyn at the next election". Bristol Post. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  25. ↑ Gaind, Nisha; Vesper, Inga (5 December 2018). "Government loyalist appointed new UK science minister as Brexit woes continue". Nature. doi:10.1038/d41586-018-07655-9. S2CID 158206538. Retrieved 6 December 2018.
  26. ↑ Net Zero by 2050 pledge
  27. ↑ Burford, Nicholas Cecil, David Bond, Rachael (6 July 2022). "Boris Johnson rules out snap election but fights on amid further resignations". Evening Standard. Retrieved 12 August 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  28. ↑ "Tory Leadership: 10 more MPs announce support for Liz Truss". BBC News. 10 August 2022. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  29. ↑ Net Zero Review
  30. ↑ Skidmore, Chris (19 October 2022). "As the former Energy Minister who signed Net Zero..." Twitter. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  31. ↑ "Government makes fracking ban vote test of Tory loyalty". BBC News. 19 October 2022. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  32. ↑ Mission Zero - Independent Review of Net Zero
  33. ↑ "UK Parliament: MP's and Lords". UK Parliament.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  34. ↑ "Chris Skidmore joins University as Professor of Practice to boost sustainability & climate research". www.bath.ac.uk. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  35. ↑ Parr, Chris (13 June 2023). "Chris Skidmore to join University of Bath". Research Professional News. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  36. ↑ "Tory MP Chris Skidmore to step down at next general election". Sky News. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
  37. ↑ PA (26 November 2022). "Chris Skidmore ninth Tory MP to set exit plan as party hit with dire opinion polls". the Guardian. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
  38. ↑ Hansard - 09/11/2023 13:00
  39. ↑ Seddon, Paul (5 January 2024). "Chris Skidmore: Tory MP to quit over new oil and gas licences". BBC News. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  40. ↑ Hymas, Charles (5 January 2024). "Chris Skidmore quits as Rishi Sunak faces another". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  41. ↑ "No. 64287". The London Gazette. 12 January 2024. p. 558.
  42. ↑ "Reform UK boycott by-election over 'grotesque abuse' of public funds". The Daily Telegraph. 6 January 2024.
  43. ↑ "List of Current Fellows September 2022" (PDF). The Royal Historical Society. September 2022. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
  44. ↑ "Mr Christopher Skidmore". Society of Antiquaries of London. 10 October 2014. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  45. ↑ "Privy Council appointment: 13 September 2019". Government of the United Kingdom. 13 September 2019. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
  46. ↑ King, Ceri (8 October 2019). "Orders approved and business transacted at the Privy Council held by the Queen at Buckingham Palace on 8th October 2019" (PDF). The Privy Council Office. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
  47. ↑ Tilbrook, Richard (6 November 2019). "Orders approved and business transacted at the Privy Council held by the Queen at Buckingham Palace on 6th November 2019" (PDF). The Privy Council Office. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
  48. ↑ "No. 63714". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 June 2022. p. B15.
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