Chris Skidmore

Skidmore was born on 17 May 1981 in Bristol, and grew up in Longwell Green and Bitton, Avon.{{cite web|url = https://www.bbk.ac.uk/about-us/fellows/chris-skidmore|title = Chris Skidmore|website = Birkbeck University of London|accessdate = 5 June 2025}}{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/hi/representatives/profiles/62314.stm |title=Chris Skidmore MP |work=Democracy Live |publisher=BBC |access-date=25 July 2010 |archive-date=24 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160224180204/http://news.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/hi/representatives/profiles/62314.stm |url-status=dead }}{{cite news|url = https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/chris-skidmore-mp-kingswood-57419|title = Everything you need to know about Chris Skidmore Conservative MP for Kingswood|last = Ashcroft|first = Esme|work = Bristol Post|date = 19 September 2017|accessdate = 5 June 2025}} In 1996, as a teenager, he became a member of the Conservative Party.{{cite web|url=http://www.conservatives.com/People/Members_of_Parliament/Skidmore_Chris.aspx|title=Chris Skidmore|publisher=Conservative Party|access-date=1 February 2017}} 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).{{Citation needed|reason=Source given as chrisskidmore.co.uk but that website no longer exists|date=October 2019}} In 2001, he served as President of the Oxford Reform Club, whose ex-members include Liz Truss and Olly Robbins.{{Cite web |title=Kwarteng IEA fringe event hints at how deeply thinktank is embedded in No 10 {{!}} Conservative conference 2022 {{!}} The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/oct/04/kwasi-kwarteng-appearance-iea-thinktank-fringe-event-embedded-no-10 |access-date=2024-01-05 |website=amp.theguardian.com}}

Skidmore worked for David Willetts and Michael Gove as an advisor, and served as chairman of the Bow Group for 2007–08,Bow Group before being appointed by another right-leaning think tank, Policy Exchange, as a research fellow.{{cite web|url=http://www.policyexchange.org.uk/people/alumni/item/chris-skidmore|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304062307/http://www.policyexchange.org.uk/people/alumni/item/chris-skidmore|archive-date=4 March 2016|publisher=Policy Exchange|title=Chris Skidmore MP}} He is the author of four books on medieval and Tudor history.{{Cite web |title=Chris Skidmore Books |url=https://www.hachette.com.au/chris-skidmore/ |access-date=2024-01-05 |website=www.hachette.com.au}}

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.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/election2010/results/constituency/c47.stm|title=Kingswood|work=BBC News|access-date=7 May 2010}}

Skidmore served as a member of the Health Select Committee, leaving that committee on 17 June 2013 (being replaced by Charlotte Leslie),{{cite web|url=http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/health-committee/membership/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130703094725/http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/health-committee/membership/|archive-date=3 July 2013|title=Health Committee – membership|work=UK Parliament}} to sit on the Education Select Committee.{{cite web|url=http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/education-committee/membership/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130702075629/http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/education-committee/membership/|archive-date=2 July 2013|work=UK Parliament|title=Membership - Education Committee}} 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).{{cite book |last1=Kwarteng |first1=Kwasi |last2=Patel |first2=Priti |last3=Raab |first3=Dominic |last4=Skidmore |first4=Chris |last5=Truss |first5=Liz |title=Britannia Unchained: Global Lessons for Growth and Prosperity |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mDt4DQAAQBAJ |location=Basingstoke |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |isbn=978-1-137-03223-2 |page=61 |year=2012 |access-date=6 August 2022 |archive-date=7 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220807171151/https://books.google.com/books?id=mDt4DQAAQBAJ |url-status=live}}

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.{{cite news|url=http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/David-Cameron-gives-Bristol-South-Gloucestershire/story-26622305-detail/story.html|title=David Cameron gives Bristol and South Gloucestershire MPs junior government roles|newspaper=Bristol Post|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150723001217/http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/David-Cameron-gives-Bristol-South-Gloucestershire/story-26622305-detail/story.html|url-status=dead|date=2 June 2015|access-date=1 February 2017|archive-date=23 July 2015}}

From 2016 to 2018, Skidmore was Parliamentary Secretary for the Constitution.{{Cite web|title=Parliamentary Secretary (Minister for the Constitution)|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/parliamentary-under-secretary-of-state--74|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170122021730/https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/parliamentary-under-secretary-of-state--74|archive-date=22 January 2017|url-status=live|work=GOV.UK}} Following the 2018 cabinet reshuffle, he was sacked from this role but given the role of vice-chairman of the Conservative Party for policy.{{Cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-42633471 |title = May buying MPS' support, claims Labour MP|work = BBC News|date = 10 January 2018|last1 = Wheeler|first1 = Brian}}

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.{{cite web|last1=Barrett|first1=Matthew|title=The 24 Conservative MPs who are still on the backbenches and have never rebelled|url=http://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2012/09/the-forty-non-government-payroll-mps-who-havent-rebelled.html|work=ConservativeHome|date=14 September 2012 |access-date=19 March 2015}}

Skidmore was opposed to Brexit prior to the 2016 EU membership referendum.{{cite news|last1=Goodenough|first1=Tom|title=Which Tory MPs back Brexit, who doesn't and who is still on the fence?|url=http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/2016/02/which-tory-mps-back-brexit-who-doesnt-and-who-is-still-on-the-fence/|access-date=11 October 2016|work=The Spectator|date=16 February 2016|archive-date=3 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170203120144/http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/2016/02/which-tory-mps-back-brexit-who-doesnt-and-who-is-still-on-the-fence/|url-status=dead}} 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".{{cite news|title=What the Tories have to do to defeat 'ruthless' Jeremy Corbyn at the next election|url=https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/what-tories-defeat-ruthless-jeremy-1283153|work=Bristol Post|last=Daly|first=Patrick|access-date=23 March 2018|date=5 March 2018}}

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.{{cite journal|first1=Nisha|last1=Gaind|first2=Inga|last2=Vesper|access-date=2018-12-06|title=Government loyalist appointed new UK science minister as Brexit woes continue |url=http://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-018-07655-9 |date=5 December 2018|journal=Nature|doi=10.1038/d41586-018-07655-9|s2cid=158206538 |url-access=subscription}}

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. [https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-becomes-first-major-economy-to-pass-net-zero-emissions-law Net Zero by 2050 pledge]

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.{{Cite web |last=Burford |first=Nicholas Cecil, David Bond, Rachael |date=2022-07-06 |title=Boris Johnson rules out snap election but fights on amid further resignations |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/boris-johnson-pm-prime-minister-quits-resignations-chancellor-nadhim-zahawi-b1010561.html |access-date=2022-08-12 |website=Evening Standard |language=en}} He initially supported Rishi Sunak in the July–September 2022 Conservative Party leadership election, but changed his support to Liz Truss.{{Cite news |date=2022-08-10 |title=Tory Leadership: 10 more MPs announce support for Liz Truss |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-62493039 |access-date=2022-08-12}}

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.[https://www.gov.uk/government/news/chris-skidmore-launches-net-zero-review Net Zero Review]

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.{{Cite web |last=Skidmore |first=Chris |date=19 October 2022 |title=As the former Energy Minister who signed Net Zero... |url=https://twitter.com/CSkidmoreUK/status/1582764535567376387 |access-date=19 October 2022 |website=Twitter}}{{Cite news |date=2022-10-19 |title=Government makes fracking ban vote test of Tory loyalty |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-63313824 |access-date=2022-10-19}}

On 16 January 2023, Skidmore published "Mission Zero", the final report of the Net Zero Review. [https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1128689/mission-zero-independent-review.pdf Mission Zero - Independent Review of Net Zero] 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 160-192 hours per annum advice on the global energy transition and decarbonisation.{{Cite web |title=The Register of Members' Financial Interests as at 11 December 2023 |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmregmem/231211/skidmore_chris.htm |website=UK Parliament}}

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.{{Cite web |title=Chris Skidmore joins University as Professor of Practice to boost sustainability & climate research |url=https://www.bath.ac.uk/announcements/chris-skidmore-joins-university-as-professor-of-practice-to-boost-sustainability-climate-research/ |access-date=2024-01-05 |website=www.bath.ac.uk}}{{Cite web |last=Parr |first=Chris |date=2023-06-13 |title=Chris Skidmore to join University of Bath |url=https://www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-universities-2023-6-chris-skidmore-to-join-university-of-bath/ |access-date=2024-01-05 |website=Research Professional News |language=en-GB}}

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."{{Cite web |title=Tory MP Chris Skidmore to step down at next general election |url=https://news.sky.com/story/tory-mp-chris-skidmore-to-step-down-at-next-general-election-12756199 |access-date=2022-11-27 |website=Sky News |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=PA |date=2022-11-26 |title=Chris Skidmore ninth Tory MP to set exit plan as party hit with dire opinion polls |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/nov/26/chris-skidmore-ninth-tory-mp-to-set-exit-plan-as-party-hit-with-dire-opinion-polls |access-date=2022-11-27 |website=the Guardian |language=en}}Hansard - 09/11/2023 13:00

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".{{Cite news |date=5 January 2024|work=BBC News |first=Paul |last=Seddon |title=Chris Skidmore: Tory MP to quit over new oil and gas licences |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-67895246 |access-date=5 January 2024 |language=en-GB}}{{cite news |last1=Hymas |first1=Charles |title=Chris Skidmore quits as Rishi Sunak faces another |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2023/1/5/rishi-sunak-byelection-conservative-chris-skidmore-quits/ |access-date=5 January 2024 |publisher=Daily Telegraph |date=5 January 2024}} On 8 January, Skidmore formally submitted his resignation as an MP, which was effected on the same day by his appointment as Steward of the Chiltern Hundreds.{{London Gazette |date=12 January 2024 |issue=64287 |page=558}} 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."{{Cite web|website=The Daily Telegraph|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/01/06/reform-uk-boycott-chris-skidmore-by-election-gloucester|title=Reform UK boycott by-election over 'grotesque abuse' of public funds|date=6 January 2024}}

On 20 June, Skidmore announced that in the 2024 UK general election he would vote Labour because of the party's Net Zero policies.{{cite news |first=Chris |last=Skidmore |title=I was a Tory minister – but I think we need a Labour government |work=The Guardian |date=20 June 2024 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/article/2024/jun/20/tory-minister-need-labour-government |access-date=21 June 2024 }}

• Fellowship of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA) (2008)
• Fellowship of the Royal Historical Society (FRHistS) (2010){{cite web |title=List of Current Fellows September 2022 |url=https://files.royalhistsoc.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/21142927/Fellows-list-on-website-September-2022.pdf |website=The Royal Historical Society |date=September 2022 |access-date=28 November 2022 |language=en}}
• Fellowship of the Society of Antiquaries of London (FSA) (10 October 2014){{cite web |title=Mr Christopher Skidmore |url=https://www.sal.org.uk/our-fellows/directory/mr-christopher-skidmore/ |website=Society of Antiquaries of London |date=10 October 2014 |access-date=8 October 2022 |language=en}}

• Sworn in as a member of Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council on 6 November 2019 at Buckingham Palace. This gave him the honorific title "The Right Honourable" for life.{{cite web |title=Privy Council appointment: 13 September 2019 |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/privy-council-appointment-13-september-2019 |website=Government of the United Kingdom |date=13 September 2019 |access-date=6 October 2022 |language=en}}{{cite web |url=https://privycouncil.independent.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/2019-10-08-List-of-Business.pdf |title=Orders approved and business transacted at the Privy Council held by the Queen at Buckingham Palace on 8th October 2019 |last=King |first=Ceri |date=8 October 2019 |website=The Privy Council Office |access-date=6 October 2022 }}{{cite web |url=https://privycouncil.independent.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/2019-11-06-List-of-Business.pdf |title=Orders approved and business transacted at the Privy Council held by the Queen at Buckingham Palace on 6th November 2019 |last=Tilbrook |first=Richard |date=6 November 2019 |website=The Privy Council Office |access-date=6 October 2022 |archive-date=7 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191107115030/https://privycouncil.independent.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/2019-11-06-List-of-Business.pdf |url-status=dead }}
• Appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2022 Birthday Honours for parliamentary and public service.{{London Gazette|issue=63714|supp=y|page=B15|date=1 June 2022}}

• 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}}

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• {{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20130119055300/http://www.chrisskidmore.com/ Official website]}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20140516192651/http://www.conservatives.com/OurTeam/Members_of_Parliament/Skidmore_Chris.aspx Profile] on the Conservative Party website

{{UK MP links | parliament = chris-skidmore/4021 | publicwhip = chris_skidmore | theywork = chris_skidmore }}

• [http://www.debretts.com/people-of-today/profile/81162/Christopher-James-(Chris)-SKIDMORE Debrett's People of Today]

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Category:1981 births

Category:Living people

Category:People educated at Bristol Grammar School

Category:Politicians from Bristol

Category:Alumni of Christ Church, Oxford

Category:21st-century English non-fiction writers

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Category:Conservative Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies

Category:Politics of South Gloucestershire District

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Category:UK MPs 2010–2015

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