Chris Skidmore
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 Member of Parliament (MP) for Kingswood in South Gloucestershire from 2010 to 2024.
The Right Honourable Chris Skidmore OBE FRHistS FSA FRSA | |
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Official portrait, 2017 | |
| Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation | |
| In office 10 September 2019 – 13 February 2020 | |
| Prime Minister | Boris Johnson |
| Preceded by | Jo Johnson |
| Succeeded by |
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| In office 5 December 2018 – 24 July 2019 | |
| Prime Minister | Theresa May |
| Preceded by | Sam Gyimah |
| Succeeded by | Jo Johnson |
| Minister of State for Health | |
| In office 24 July 2019 – 10 September 2019 | |
| Prime Minister | Boris Johnson |
| Preceded by | Stephen Hammond |
| Succeeded by | Edward Argar |
| Minister of State for Energy and Clean Growth | |
| In office 20 May 2019 – 24 July 2019 | |
| Prime Minister | Theresa May |
| Preceded by | Claire Perry |
| Succeeded by | Kwasi Kwarteng |
| Parliamentary Secretary for the Constitution | |
| In office 17 July 2016 – 8 January 2018 | |
| Prime Minister | Theresa May |
| Preceded by | John Penrose |
| Succeeded by | Chloe Smith |
| Member of Parliament for Kingswood | |
| In office 6 May 2010 – 8 January 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Roger Berry |
| Succeeded by | Damien Egan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 17 May 1981 Longwell Green, Avon, England |
| Other political affiliations | Conservative (1996–2024) |
| Education | Bristol Grammar School |
| Alma mater | Christ Church, Oxford (BA) |
| Website | Official website |
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 the Conservative Party's policy vice chairman. He returned to government in 2018 as Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation following Sam Gyimah's resignation. He was 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.
Skidmore became Minister of State for Health after Boris Johnson became prime minister in July 2019. He returned to his former position of universities minister in September 2019 following Jo Johnson's resignation, and was dismissed from government in the February 2020 reshuffle. Skidmore chaired a review of the government's net-zero strategy in 2022 and 2023. He resigned as an MP in January 2024 over the proposed introduction of the government's Offshore Petroleum Licensing Bill.