Net zero tsar to stand down as MP as Tory exodus continues

Chris Skidmore has become the latest Conservative MP to announce he will not stand at the next general election.

The former universities and energy minister, 41, joins a growing list of young, high-profile Tory MPs who have said they will not fight the election amid a slump for the party in the polls.

Speaking exclusively to The Telegraph, Mr Skidmore said he had chosen not to stand because his seat of Kingswood in South Gloucestershire was set to be abolished in the boundary review.

First winning the constituency in 2010, Mr Skidmore grew up in Kingswood.

“I’ve sort of come to the conclusion I don't want to fight any other seat apart from my home seat,” he said.

Mr Skidmore denied that he was leaving because of the bleak electoral picture facing the Tories, pointing out that he had grown his majority to 11,200 and “could have potentially had the choice of going elsewhere in the country”.

Instead, he said he had decided he wanted his next role to focus on delivering net zero outside of politics.

'Last big job'

Mr Skidmore is currently undertaking a review of the policy for the Government, which he described “as my last big job”.

"This is a moment now to be able to look at doing other things,” he said. “One reason why I want to leave politics is now actually to focus on net zero beyond being in the House of Commons, and to probably devote the next part of my career to looking at how to deliver on the energy transition and on ensuring that business and society can deliver on net zero."

Tory MPs have been given a deadline of December 5 to inform the party whether they wish to contest the next election.

In recent days, Chloe Smith, William Wragg, Sir Gary Streeter and Dehenna Davison have all announced they are leaving. In total at least 10 MPs have said they intend to retire from the Commons.

The relative youth of many of those departing - Ms Smith is 40, Mr Wragg is 34 and Ms Davison is 29 - has given rise to suggestions that young Tory MPs now see a better future for themselves outside of politics.

Mr Skidmore said that his experience was similar to Ms Smith's, who entered the Commons as Baby of the House aged 27 in 2009.

“I got selected at 26, I didn't expect to get elected at 28… so I feel like I've dedicated a significant part of my life to politics,” he said.

Like Ms Smith - who said she had decided to step back to spend more time with her young family - he spoke of the toll on family life of being an MP.

“I've now got three young children eight and under,” he said. “I do miss the opportunities to spend the evenings with them.”

Concern at how departures look

While those exiting insist they are not leaving because they think the Tories are heading for defeat, colleagues wishing to defend their seats have voiced dismay at how the departures are being perceived.

The Telegraph also understands that some MPs mulling their futures have decided to ignore the December 5 deadline, meaning the damaging stream of departures is likely to continue right up until an election has been called.

One MP told the Telegraph: "What are they going to do? Put a gun to their heads and say they have to stand?"

Such a trend of departures would cause huge problems for Conservative Campaign Headquarters because it would stop party officials from getting new candidates established in seats which the Tories must defend to have any hopes of staying in government.

One MP intending to fight the next election told The Telegraph: “Colleagues would be wise to wait out what will be a challenging winter, but given how utterly exhausting and relentless the last three years have been, I would understand why some have had enough.

“It’s seven days a week with little mental and emotional space for loved ones and friends.”