Chris Skidmore

Chris was born and grew up in Longwell Green and now lives in Bitton. His family have lived in the local area of Kingswood for generations. Before entering politics, Chris worked briefly in journalism for the People Magazine and as a historical researcher, before going on to write his first book, a biography of the Tudor king Edward VI in 2007. Chris has continued to write, publishing his second book, Death and the Virgin in 2010. He currently teaches history part-time at Bristol University. In his spare time, Chris enjoys playing the guitar and going to music concerts (as a Bob Dylan fan, he’s seen him four times!).

Chris' Experience

Chris has been an active member of the Conservative Party since 1996. He has worked as the Conservative Party’s Education Adviser and is a former Chairman of the Bow Group.

In Kingswood, Chris is actively involved in a number of charities and organisations, including being a governor of the Grange School and a trustee of the Kingswood Young Homeless Project. Chris also volunteers his time to help out at Cossham Hospital.

Chris believes in directly standing up for and strengthening local communities; committed to helping local people, he established the Kingswood Jobs Club to help local people find work, set up the Barrs Court Residents Association and also helped set up the Cadbury Heath Pensioners’ Lunch Club.

Campaining in Kingswood

As a local man, Chris has been absolutely determined to campaign on key local issues that matter to the community. These include defending our greenbelt from the Labour government’s plans to build thousands of homes on greenbelt land across Mangotsfield, Siston and Warmley, Oldland Common and Longwell Green. Chris has run several high profile campaigns and petitions opposing any development on greenbelt land.

Chris has also campaigned for better NHS services, and ensuring that we get the best possible facilities at Frenchay hospital. Chris believes that the downgrading of Frenchay Hospital is an indictment of Labour’s record on the NHS in our local area.

Chris has also run a series of campaigns to preserve and protect local community facilities. These included a campaign to save Hill Street Post Office in Kingswood from closure, and a successful campaign to keep Warmley Pharmacy open. Chris’ most recent campaigns include saving the 632 bus route and fighting government’s cuts to South Gloucestershire pensioners’ bus passes. Chris has also been running a campaign to save the Lamb Pub in Cadbury Heath from closure.