Kingswood by-election: Voters will choose new MP after Chris Skidmore's resignation

Following the resignation of ex-Conservative MP Chris Skidmore, voters in Kingswood will elect a new representative in February.

The former minister stood down from his position earlier this month over the government's energy plans.

Mr Skidmore said he could not continue as a Tory MP ahead of a vote on a bill to guarantee annual oil and gas licensing rounds - triggering a by-election to be held in February.

So why is this happening and what does it mean?

Born and raised in the constituency, Mr Skidmore was first elected as Kingswood MP in 2010.

He studied history at Oxford University, writing several books on the subject, and was among a number of backbench MPs, including Liz Truss and Kwasi Kwarteng, who wrote chapters in Britannia Unchained in 2012, a book promoting a low tax, free market ideology.

Mr Skidmore served in governments under Theresa May and Boris Johnson, and signed the UK's net zero pledge into law as Interim Minister for Energy.

He resigned over government policy to allow further licenses to drill for oil and gas in the North Sea and has continued to advocate for net zero since quitting.

Mr Skidmore said he had found himself increasingly at odds with government policy on the environment over the past 18 months and has said he has "no regrets" about leaving Parliament.

Kingswood is in South Gloucestershire.

People living there might tell you they are from Bristol, as it lies on the edge of the city conurbation, but South Gloucestershire is its own unitary authority area and Kingswood is home to one of the offices for South Gloucestershire Council, though its headquarters are in Yate.

The constituency also includes the districts of Hanham, Warmley, Longwell Green and Emersons Green.

Following a boundary review, the constituency is due to be abolished at the next general election.

Mr Skidmore's seat had a Conservative majority of 11,220 in the 2019 general election and had previously been held by Labour from 1992 to 2010.

Like many parts of the UK, voters here have suffered with a cost of living crisis, and the sluggish economic performance of the country post-Brexit and the coronavirus pandemic.

Kingswood High Street is part of a £25m regeneration scheme, but that has not stopped many businesses from closing.

With many people living here also commuting into Bristol, public transport, or a lack of it, is also a big issue.

"We've had bank closures, other shops close, and we need the impetus of an MP that cares about the community," one voter told the BBC this week.

The constituency has only ever been served by Conservative or Labour MPs, with the latter already throwing their campaign might at the seat.

This week, shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves paid a visit, following a speech in the constituency at the start of the year from party leader Sir Keir Starmer.

Former mayor of Lewisham Damien Egan has been selected as the Labour candidate for the by-election.

Mr Egan grew up in the Kingswood constituency and pipped Bristol mayor Marvin Rees for the Labour candidacy for the newly created seat of Bristol North East - which will include areas of Kingswood.

Mr Egan officially resigned as mayor of Lewisham earlier this week.

The Conservatives announced on 14 January that Sam Bromiley will stand in the seat.

Mr Bromiley also grew up in the Kingswood area and has lived there his whole life.

Reform UK initially stated it would not be putting forward a candidate, in protest over the cost.

But on 17 January, the party announced Reform UK's business and agriculture spokesman Rupert Lowe had been selected for the by-election.

The Kingswood by-election is being held on 15 February.

It is one of two by-elections taking place on the same day as voters in Wellingborough will also go to the polls to replace Conservative Peter Bone, who lost the seat following a sexual misconduct scandal.

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