CaSE welcomes Chris Skidmore as new Universities and Science Minister

CaSE has welcomed Chris Skidmore MP as the new Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation.

Commenting, CaSE Executive Director Dr Sarah Main said:

“Chris Skidmore comes to the role with significant insight into the science and engineering sector through his constituency, which is home to the Bristol and Bath Science Park, the National Composite Centre and Airbus. He has been an advocate in Parliament for the skills and infrastructure to support science and has served in health, education and Treasury roles. 

The Minister has a big agenda in front of him: to increase the UK’s research intensity by 50% over ten years. This goal lies at the heart of the Industrial Strategy and the Government’s ambitions to increase productivity and prosperity across the UK. 

I am looking forward to working with him.” 

About Chris Skidmore MP

Chris Skidmore was educated at Bristol Grammar School before studying Modern History at Oxford University. He worked for former Science Minister David Willetts and Michael Gove as an advisor, as well as various right-leaning think tanks including the Bow Group and Policy Exchange.

Skidmore was elected Conservative MP for Kingswood in May 2010. The constituency is located in South Gloucestershire and includes Bristol and Bath Science Park, the National Composite Centre and Airbus. He served as a member of both the Health and Education Select Committees, before being appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Chancellor following his successful re-election in 2015. From 2016 to 2018, he was Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Cabinet Office, before becoming Vice-Chairman of the Conservative Party for Policy in the 2018 Cabinet reshuffle. He previously served as Universities and Science Minister from December 2018 to July 2019.