Mayor of Lewisham announced as Labour candidate in Kingswood by-election

The Mayor of Lewisham has been announced as Labour’s candidate in the upcoming Kingswood by-election after a former energy minister resigned over the Government’s plans to boost oil and gas drilling in the North Sea.

Chris Skidmore launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s green credentials before he formally resigned as an MP on Monday.

Mr Skidmore, who led a Government review of net zero, said the "future will judge harshly" anyone who backed the Offshore Petroleum Licensing Bill.

The resignation provides another headache for Mr Sunak after disgraced MP Peter Bone was kicked out by his Wellingborough constituents in December, sparking a by-election there. 

Damien Egan, who grew up in and around Kingswood, near Bristol, has been announced as the Labour candidate for Mr Skidmore’s seat.

Mr Egan became a parish councillor when he was 21, after his earlier experiences of living in temporary accommodation when he and his mother were made homeless led him into politics.

He was elected Mayor of Lewisham in 2018.

Mr Egan said: "I’m looking forward to being able to go around the areas I grew up in and give residents a hardworking representative who’s on their side.

"Speaking to residents in Kingswood today, it’s clear that just like the former MP, people are fed up of this government and ready for change. 

"In just a few weeks, we’ll have the opportunity to send Rishi Sunak a message that it’s time for change.

"I’m excited to have the opportunity to work together to finally tackle the real issues we are having locally."

With a majority of 11,200 over second-placed Labour, the Conservatives will have a tough battle to retain the Kingswood seat given the opposition’s recent success in overturning much larger deficits.

Boundary changes mean the seat is due to be abolished at the next election and Mr Skidmore had already announced his intention not to stand for another seat.

Since becoming Prime Minister, Mr Sunak has lost four seats in by-elections and only managed to retain Uxbridge and South Ruislip by 495 votes.