Rishi Sunak is facing another by-election headache after a former Conservative minister quit the Commons over the government’s green policy.

Chris Skidmore, who was energy minister under Theresa May and also in government under Boris Johnson, announced last week that he would be leaving his role as an MP.

His resignation coincides with a vote in the House of Commons on the government’s plans to offer new licences for oil and gas drilling in the North Sea.

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Mr Skidmore has been a vocal proponent of green energy and policies.

Mr Sunak angered the green wing of his party when he watered down the government’s net zero plans last year.

It means there will be a by-election in Mr Skidmore’s Kingswood seat, where he has a majority of 11,220.

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That margin is far smaller than in the last two by-election upsets Labour handed to the Tories, when a 24,664-vote majority was overturned in Mid Bedfordshire and 19,634 in Tamworth.

Mr Sunak already faces having to defend Wellingborough after constituents ousted scandal-hit Peter Bone.

Mr Skidmore is not the only Conservative MP to signal his unhappiness with the new oil and gas drilling.

Alok Sharma, who was president for the UN’s COP26 climate conference in the UK, has said he will not support the bill – although this may mean he abstains rather than opposes it.

The vote is on the second reading of the Offshore Petroleum Licensing Bill – this is the first time the potential law is voted on, but it is still a long way from becoming law.

MPs will still able to amend it, and the House of Lords and Commons will also have further votes.

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