Tory MPs have rounded on a former minister who is set to quit the party today over opposition to handing out more licences for oil and gas exploration in the UK.

According to his register of interests, Chris Skidmore earns £80,000 a year for between 160 and 192 hours (eight days) of consultancy work for the green industry.

One Conservative MP noted upon Mr Skidmore’s resignation from the party: “Follow the money.”

Another questioned how Mr Skidmore could make representations as an MP in Parliament when he “so clearly has a financial interest” in climate change issues.

The Kingswood MP’s work is as an adviser for Emissions Capture Company, which is an expert in so-called clean energy, building on the expertise he got as a former minister for energy and clean growth.

Dudley North MP Marco Longhi, who has supported Rishi Sunak‘s decision to reign back on Net Zero policies, told Express.co.uk that Mr Skidmore had long put the interests of the green industry ahead of the needs of ordinary voters.

He said: “Chris has long been an MP who put net zero dogma ahead of working-class people being forced to pay for it all.

“We are already meeting targets so the PM was entirely right to licence these oil and gas developments.

“Perhaps Chris can focus even more on his outside interests.”

Another senior MP suggested that Mr Skidmore should quit as an MP if he is leaving the party that got him elected but check out “how many emissions a by-election generates”.

Meanwhile, Nigel Farage described Mr Skidmore as “selfish”.

Sharing an image of Mr Skidmore’s register of interests on social media platform X, Mr Farage said: “The resignation of Chris Skidmore is yet another act of selfishness from a Tory party who endlessly fight with themselves and put the country second.”

Mr Skidmore, who has authored a book, “Mission Zero”, has insisted that his decision is based on principle on the issue as he and other Tories such as former minister Lord Goldsmith object to new licences for oil and gas exploration.

In his statement, he said: “Next week the Government will be introducing the Offshore Petroleum Licensing Bill in the House of Commons.

“This bill would in effect allow more frequent new oil and gas licenses and the increased production of new fossil fuels in the North Sea. It is a bill that I have already stated my opposition to, by not voting in the King’s Speech debate in protest at the bill’s inclusion in the Government’s legislative programme.

“As the former Energy Minister who signed the UK’s net zero commitment by 2050 into law, I cannot vote for a bill that clearly promotes the production of new oil and gas.

“It has been a remarkable and wonderful opportunity to service as a Member of Parliament for nearly 14 years, but I now intend to focus all my energy and attention on delivering net zero and the energy transition.”