Politics
Former Tory Minister Breaks Ranks to Vote Labour, Citing Sunak’s Alliance with Climate Deniers
Ex-Tory minister announces shift to Labour, criticizes Sunak for aligning with climate skeptics
Ex-Conservative minister Chris Skidmore has declared his intention to vote for the Labour Party, marking a first in his political life, due to his dissatisfaction with Rishi Sunak's approach of aligning with climate skeptics and politicizing the shift towards sustainable energy.
Political correspondent @fayebrownSky
Thursday, June 20, 2024, at 8
A previous Conservative minister, who resigned due to dissatisfaction with the government's approach to the climate crisis, has disclosed his intention to support the Labour Party in the upcoming election.
In a fresh setback for Rishi Sunak's struggling campaign, Chris Skidmore criticized the prime minister for aligning with those who deny climate change, accusing him of intentionally making the shift to renewable energy a political issue.
Current update on elections: Graph indicates an increase in wagers on the date of
He described it as possibly "the most significant disaster of [Sunak's] leadership," noting that it has been damaging both "in terms of the environment and the economy."
In an article for The Guardian, Mr. Skidmore expressed his inability to support any political group that has proudly included new oil and gas licenses in its platform, or currently views the goal of net zero as a hindrance rather than an advantage.
"Consequently, joining many who recognize the urgency of our situation and the lack of alternatives, I believe that the Labour Party is ideally positioned to drive economic development and a sustainable industrial transformation."
"Achieving net zero is among its top five goals, which is why I plan to support the Labour Party in the upcoming election."
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Mr. Skidmore, who previously held the position of energy minister, resigned from his role as a Conservative MP in January, citing his objections to the government's proposal to issue new permits for oil and gas exploration in the North Sea.
The strategy was altered following a dilution of environmental commitments due to the Uxbridge special election.
In a surprising turn of events last summer, the Conservatives managed to retain Boris Johnson's former constituency by focusing their campaign on opposing Sadiq Khan's proposed expansion of the ULEZ.
The move was perceived by some as an effort to create a division on environmental policies with the Labour Party, with Mr. Sunak expressing his desire to shield "hard-pressed British families" from "unacceptable costs."
In his article, Mr. Skidmore criticized the extreme language that portrays policies aimed at achieving net zero as burdensome impositions.
"This incorrect story stems from a mix of misunderstanding and intentional disinformation. There has never been a directive that individuals must discard their boilers or switch out their gasoline vehicles."
He remarked that whereas former Conservative administrations recognized the necessity of managing and encouraging change, the prime minister's choice to align with climate skeptics and intentionally make the energy transition a political issue may be the most tragic aspect of his leadership.
Mr. Skidmore, the head of the 2023 government's net zero review, has consistently criticized Mr. Sunak's environmental policies.
Following his departure, the Labour Party secured a victory in his former constituency of Kingswood, located close to Bristol.
He switched sides shortly after a previous Conservative supporter, who donated £500,000 to Boris Johnson, declared he would be casting his vote for the Labour Party for the first time.
The recent developments add to a series of setbacks for Mr. Sunak, following several surveys indicating a potential overwhelming victory for Labour and a burgeoning controversy over wagers made regarding the election’s timing.
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