He is regarded as a left-winger, and has been backbench MP for Bolsover since 1970. He was chairman of the Labour Party between 1988 and 1989, and has stood on the National Executive Committee in most years since 1978.

He is known for his republican (i.e., anti-monarchical, pro-constitutional) sentiments. Skinner has often made sarcastic comments upon the arrival of Black Rod (the Sergeant-at-arms equivalent for the House of Lords and symbol of Royal authority) in the Chamber of the House of Commons. Black Rod comes each year into the Commons chamber to summon the House to hear the Queen's speech in the House of Lords. In 2003, he suggested that the Speaker "bar the doors" after Black Rod had arrived, a practice that is normally used to block late-arriving MPs from casting their votes after the division bells have been sounded. The tongue-in-cheek suggestion by Skinner was scoffed off by the generally good-humoured Speaker, Michael Martin.