Former Tory minister says party is 'going in very dark direction' on climate crisis

The Conservative party is going in a "very dark direction", a former Tory minister has said, as misinformation around climate has taken hold.

- Helena Horton

Chris Skidmore, MP for Kingswood in Gloucestershire, served as energy minister under Theresa May when she signed the target of net zero emissions by 2050 into law. He was appointed last year as Liz Truss's net zero tsar, and tasked with writing a review of the UK's net zero plan.

Skidmore has always been a loyal MP, and once served as vice-chair of the party. But he has found himself left behind as many of his colleagues turned their backs on net zero, leaving him the sole Conservative MP to vote with Labour on their amendments to the recent energy bill.

"I don't feel I have moved in my position," he says. "I am a liberal conservative who came in under David Cameron. We used that language of hope, of opportunity, of facing the future, not turning to the past and claiming that things were somehow better." Many believe the prime minister, Rishi Sunak, has focused on stoking the culture wars since becoming leader. Ministers have referred to those campaigning for climate change as "zealots", there have been changes in the criminal law that target fossil fuel protesters and there has been a change of tone on many other issues from immigration to homelessness.

"I think there are certain values that have been established by certain groups in the Conservative party that are not my values. Politicians turning their backs on people who need help. Speaking out about what they are against, rather than what they are for," said Skidmore.