Net zero minister quits to focus on constituency ahead of election

NET ZERO minister Graham Stuart has quit his Cabinet role to focus on his constituency ahead of the upcoming election, he has announced.

Mr Stuart, who has served on the front bench for much of the last eight years, said that he will continue to give Rishi Sunak “full support from the backbenches” as he steps down from his post as energy security and net zero minister to concentrate on local issues.

But he says that he will be standing again as the MP for Beverley and Holderness at the general election, which he told the Prime Minister he looks “forward to fighting and winning”.

It comes after a poll by YouGov last week predicted that the constituency would fall to Labour at the next general election. Mr Stuart won it by a 20,000-strong majority in 2019.

In a letter to Mr Sunak, Mr Stuart said: “Having served as a minister for most of the last eight years I have decided that now is the time to stand down. I intend to continue serving my constituents in Beverley & Holderness, campaigning on local issues and look forward to fighting and winning the seat later this year.”

Responding, Mr Sunak said: “I understand your desire to step down as a Minister. These jobs are all-consuming and you have served in Government almost continuously since 2016.”

Mr Stuart becomes the latest in a spate of ministerial resignations from Cabinet, with education minister Robert Halfon quitting two weeks ago - on the same day that Armed Forces minister James Heappey officially left his Government post.

Daisy Cooper, the deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats, said that the “drumbeat of Conservative resignations is becoming deafening”. She added: “Ministers are finding any excuse they can to get away from this deeply unpopular Conservative Government.”

More than 60 Tory MPs have announced that they will not be standing at the next election, including former prime minister Theresa May.

Former ministers have often left Whitehall for a job in the private sector. To do so, they first need to approach the Advisory Committee on Business

Appointments (Acoba), whose rules are designed to prevent those with insider information from engaging in lobbying.

The Ministerial Code dictates that ministers should seek advice from Acoba about any appointments or employment they wish to take up within two years of leaving office.

Mr Stuart will be replaced by Justin Tomlinson, who had previously served as a minister in the Department of Work and Pensions.