Greg Barker, MP for Bexhill and Battle resigns from position as Energy and Climate Change Minister. Collapse of political career sees him standing down as MP at next election
As part of a major re-alignment of government ministers this morning, Greg Barker, Energy and Climate Change Minister has resigned. It is understood that he explained to David Cameron over the weekend that he intended to offer his resignation.
Critics will argue over what happened to the politician who enjoyed a 12,880 majority at the last election. It will come as no surprise that without any offer from the Prime Minister of a post in Government, that the beleagured MP had little choice but to throw in the towel, after enjoying such a high profile position.
The shock news will see the MP for Bexhill and Battle. leaving not just Government, but it would appear, politics.
Greg, talking to ITV News said he was “very pleased to have served in environment and climate change posts for 10 years in opposition and Government” and had a “terrific time”.
“For me it’s time to seek new challenges. I remain 110% supportive of the Prime Minister and his ambition for Britain.”
The high profile Conservative MP has been bruised and battered by a series of policy non sequiturs and various Whitehall disasters, which has led to other Ministers briefing against him.
He came under increasing pressure following the calamitous launch of the Green Deal scheme and a High Court ruling last week, which leaves the Government facing a £132 million damages bill for his handling of reductions to the Feed-in Tariff scheme.
Accepting Mr Barker’s resignation, the Prime Minister’s official letter of response stated: “You have served continuously on the Conservative front bench for over a decade and I hope you can be enormously proud of all you have achieved over the years covering the related briefs of Environment and, more recently, Climate Change”.
“In particular, you have led successful investment into our energy infrastructure, making the UK a world-leader in renewable technology. You have established the Green Investment Bank, and mobilised over £3 billion investment into our renewables sector last year alone.”
Using his Twitter account Mr Barker explained that: “It has been a huge honour to serve in pioneering 1st Cameron govt, & great privilege to represent Bexhill&Battle.”
Sadly his letter from the Prime Minister appeared not to have arrived in full, with only the final two paragraphs seeming to have come through on the fax machine. It is not completely clear why a whole page has either been blocked off or failed in the transmission.
Ever cheerful Greg, signed off his political career after 13 years as an MP, with some words that salvaged something from the situation.
“Looking forward to receiving my letter in full from PM but very touched by this extract pic.twitter.com/AXicG0khzf“.
The Goon like exit, with perhaps Spike Milligan looking on from on high at the Climate Change Minister and explaining to the audience that ‘he’s fallen in the water’ to ripples of laughter, may come to be seen as an epitaph of some description.
For the record, Greg Barker first stood in a safe Labour seat, with another name that will resonate with Goons fans.
The name of the seat (and we promise you, we did not make this up), was Eccles.
Simon Montgomery
editor, Bay Life
