Category Archives: michael gove

Nadine Dorries Slammed After Accusing Michael Gove Of Being Drunk During Pro-Palestine March

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Nadine Dorries has been criticised after she accused Michael Gove was “drunk” as pro-Palestine protesters marched through central London.

The levelling up secretary was heckled as he walked towards Victoria Station on Saturday afternoon.

People chanted “shame on you” at the cabinet minister, who had to be bundled into a police car to escape.

It is understood Gove was being driven back to London from his Surrey Heath constituency, but was forced to get out and walk because the roads were blocked. He was said to be “shaken” following the incident.

On BBC One’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg this morning, Dorries said: “What was Michael Gove doing in the middle of Victoria Station on a day when any other sentient politician did not want to make the police’s job any harder?

“Was he drunk? What was he doing there? What judgement made him walk through Victoria Station?”

In a post on X (formerly Twitter) later, Dorries said: “The point is, he was playing to the gallery. It was a stunt and those of us who have watched his unstable Machiavellian behaviour from the sidelines – his backstabbings, leaking and briefings, we can see right through him. There’s good reason why David Cameron has cast him into the outer darkness.”

Hitting back at Dorries, a source close to Gove told HuffPost UK: “It’s sad really, but she has a book to sell.”

That is a reference to The Plot, the former culture secretary’s book about the downfall of Boris Johnson as prime minister.

Gove’s ex-wife, Sarah Vine, also criticised Dorries on X (formerly Twitter).

Meanwhile, Stephen Flynn, the SNP’s leader at Westminster, condemned those who had targeted Gove.

Responding to a post on X which said it was “bizarre” for Gove to be walking in central London at that time, he said : “It’s not ‘bizarre’ for Michael Gove to use a major tube/train station. He should be able to travel in peace like everyone else.

“Those acting in this fashion damage their cause and, along with those displaying abhorrent anti-semitism amongst the rally today, must be condemned.”

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Michael Gove Delays Scrapping No-Fault Evictions In Face Of Major Tory Rebellion

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Michael Gove has delayed plans to end no-fault evictions after dozens of Tory MPs threatened to vote against it.

The levelling up secretary said the changes – which were promised in the Conservatives’ election manifesto – would not go ahead until reforms were made to the way courts handle so-called “Section 21” cases.

But Labour accused him of striking a “grubby deal” with Tory MPs to avoid an embarrassing backbench rebellion.

Gove’s climbdown was revealed in a letter to MPs ahead of a Commons debate on the Renters Reform Bill.

In it, he said ministers will “reform the courts before we abolish section 21”.

Shadow levelling up secretary Angela Rayner said: “The government has betrayed renters with this grubby deal with the Tory backbenches.

“The Conservatives’ long-promised ban on no-fault evictions has majority and cross-party support across the House, but this flip-flop kicks it into the long grass.

“Having broken the justice system, they are now using their own failure to indefinitely delay keeping their promises to renters in the most underhand way.”

She added: “Tens of thousands more families who the government promised to protect, now face the prospect of being threatened with homelessness or kicked out of their homes by bailiffs.”

A spokesman for Rishi Sunak this morning insisted the government was still committed to ending no-fault evictions, but could not guarantee that it will happen before next year’s general election.

He said: “We think that this is an important commitment. Equally, it’s right that the right provisions are in place.”

One of the Tory rebels, Marco Longhi, told LBC: “The consequences of this well-meaning legislation is a reduction in supply as landlords continue to leave the market.

“Where will these tenants go at a time of huge demand? This is an inflationary measure that will make things worse for tenants.”

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Boris Johnson Is A ‘Man Of Integrity’, Cabinet Minister Insists

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Boris Johnson is a “man of integrity” and “puts the country first”, a Cabinet minister has insisted.

Levelling up secretary Michael Gove said he believes everything Johnson said when he was hauled in front of MPs last week.

The former prime minister was interrogated by seven MPs over statements he made to parliament about the partygate scandal.

Johnson swore “hand on heart” that he did not lie to the House of Commons during the high stakes hearing with the privileges committee.

Their inquiry into whether he led misled parliament has the potential to end his political career.

However, Gove told Sky News Johnson is a “man of integrity” and is someone who “puts the country first”.

He went on to tell the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme he believed the former prime minister’s evidence.

Asked if Johnson had always told the truth, Gove said: “I think that all of us will at some point have told a white lie or an untruth.

“But I think the fundamental thing here —and again the privileges committee will make up its own mind, it has looked at all the evidence — but what was Boris’ argument? He was working incredibly hard, every hour that the lord sent in order to try and do the right thing.

“He believed that saying thank you to people who were leaving in the cramped and confined circumstances of 10 Downing Street was part of that job. Did he attend those events in a spirit of self-indulgence? No, he did so in order to show his gratitude to those who were working with him.”

Gove said he was inclined to give Johnson “not just the benefit of the doubt” but to believe him when he “places his hand on his heart”.

Johnson swore on the King James Bible to tell the truth before accepting that he misled MPs but insisted his partygate denials were made “in good faith” based on what he “honestly” knew at the time.

Johnson said if it was so “obvious” that rule-breaking was going on in No.10, then it would also have been “obvious” to others, including Rishi Sunak.

He also argued the process had been “manifestly unfair” and said if the inquiry is accusing him of lying, then it is also levelling the same charge at civil servants, advisers and MPs.

If the committee decides Johnson did mislead MPs – and the Commons backs suspending him for 10 days or more – he could face a by-election in his Uxbridge and South Ruislip constituency.

However, there is a long process to get through before the saga potentially reaches that stage.

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Michael Gove Says He Made A ‘Mistake’ By Seeing Drug Use As Acceptable

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Michael Gove said he made a “mistake” by thinking drug taking was “somehow acceptable”.

The senior Conservative MP was grilled over his own previous drug use after he revealed plans to ban laughing gas in Britain.

Nitrous oxide is set to be banned under government plans to clamp down on anti-social behaviour.

However, during the 2019 Tory leadership race Gove himself admitted to taking Class A drug cocaine.

“I took drugs on several occasions at social events more than 20 years ago,” he told the Daily Mail. “At the time I was a young journalist. It was a mistake. I look back and I think, I wish I hadn’t done that.”

The levelling up secretary said he had learned it was a “mistake” and it was “absolutely vital” to deal with the “scourge” of laughing gas.

Asked if the public might view his stance on laughing gas as “hypocritical”, he told Sky News’ Sophy Ridge On Sunday: “No, I think it is because I have learned.”

Pressed on what he had learned, Gove said: “That it is a mistake — worse than a mistake — to regard drug taking as somehow acceptable.”

Empty cannisters of laughing gas lying on the street in Birmingham.
Empty cannisters of laughing gas lying on the street in Birmingham.

Mike Kemp via Getty Images

Confirming the ban on laughing gas, Gove said: “I think anyone who has the opportunity to walk through our parks in our major cities will have seen these little silver canisters, which are examples of people not only spoiling public spaces but taking a drug which can have a psychological and neurological effect and one that contributes to antisocial behaviour overall.”

Laughing gas is the second most commonly used drug among 16 to 24-year-olds in England after cannabis.

The decision goes further than the recommendations of a review commissioned by the Home Office, which stopped short of recommending a ban after examining the dangers of the substance.

Gove accepted that ministers had been advised not to ban laughing gas but said the government had taken a different view.

“Of course it is absolutely right that we uphold the law in this case,” he added.

“Yes, the advisory committee offered their advice but ultimately it is ministers who are responsible.

“And we believe collectively that it is absolutely vital that we deal with this scourge and in the same way.”

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Everyone Is Remembering When Gove Vowed There Would Be No Food Shortages After Brexit

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A resurfaced clip of Michael Gove promising there would be no fresh food shortages post-Brexit is making the rounds again on Twitter.

As supermarkets Tesco, Aldi, Morrisons and Asda have announced they are limiting customers to buying just three pieces of each item of fruit or vegetables.

Experts now believe shortages of tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, lettuce, and more might now last until May, while cabinet minister Therese Coffey has urged the public to eat turnips instead.

Supermarkets have pointed out that it is primarily due to the knock-on effects of poor weather in southern Spain and north Africa, where a lot of this produce is grown, but others think Brexit has exacerbated the whole issue.

After all, consumers in Spain and Morocco have posted viral clips on social media showing that these weather conditions are not affecting their own supermarkets.

So some have concluded that the bureaucratic costs associated with exporting products to the UK post-Brexit also mean the UK is at the bottom of the list when it comes to accessing high-demand food.

It’s no surprise that an old clip from Gove, a prominent Brexiteer who has been in the government for the best part of 13 years – and is currently levelling up secretary – has now been making the rounds.

It dates back to September 2019, when he was chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster under Boris Johnson (having just been environment, food and rural affairs secretary under Theresa May).

As part of an interview for his Sunday show, then BBC presenter Andrew Marr asked Gove: “Are you absolutely sure that there will be no fresh food shortages in the UK as a result of no deal?”

“Everyone will have the food you need,” the minister replied confidently.

Marr cut in: ″That’s not the answer I was… I’m saying, ‘Will there be shortages?’ and you’re saying, ‘There will be’.”

Gove said: “There will be no shortages of fresh food.”

However, not everyone agrees that Brexit is the reason for these shortages.

High energy prices have prevented domestic growers and those in the Netherlands from using greenhouses.

Others have pointed to the EU member Ireland’s struggles as it also faces shortages.

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Michael Gove Slaps Down Tory MP Who Said Nurses Using Food Banks Should Budget Better

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Michael Gove has slapped down a Tory MP who suggested that nurses were using foodbanks because of poor budgeting.

Former Cabinet minister Simon Clarke has been criticised for telling nurses on a £35,000 annual salary that something was “wrong” with their budgeting if they were reliant on foodbanks.

Today marks the second day of strike action by nurses this week as their dispute with the government over pay and working conditions shows no sign of resolution.

Unions have warned that nurses are increasingly turning to foodbanks as the cost of living crisis bites into their wages, which they argue have decreased in real terms over the past decade.

Asked by Kay Burley on Sky News whether he agreed that nurses were “excellent at saving lives but hopeless with their finances”, Gove replied: “No, I would never put it that way.

“I think we appreciate that nurses, everyone who’s working on the front line in the national health service, is doing an amazing job, and my thanks and gratitude to nurses today is something I want to express very deeply and personally.”

“I also think that when we’re looking at the pay claims that are being made by people within the national health service, and also people in other parts of the public sector, we have to balance making sure we do everything we can to reward them for their hard work with recognising that we also have to be careful stewards of public money overall.”

Gillian Keegan, the education secretary, has also faced a backlash after suggesting that people could be turning to foodbanks because “something will have broken down – either a relationship or boiler or anything”.

Pressed on whether his colleagues had been wrong to criticise nurses for the way they manage their money, the levelling up secretary replied: “I would never criticise nurses for something like that.

“I think the most important thing to do is to recognise that people who are working in the NHS are people who’ve dedicated their lives to a caring profession, they’re doing everything they can to support us.”

Clarke, himself a former levelling up secretary, said on Twitter this morning that he “100%” stood behind his comments.

The MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland told BBC Radio Tees on Wednesday that the debate over nurses’ pay is now “way out of hand”.

“I’m afraid if you are using a food bank and you are earning the average nurse’s salary of £35,000 a year then something is wrong with your budgeting, because £35,000 a year is not a salary on which you ought to be relying on a food bank.”

Citing the Nursing Times as his source, he told the station £35,000 is the median nurse’s salary and added: “My message is everyone needs to take responsibility in their lives.

“I don’t believe people on an average salary of £35,000 a year need to be using food banks.”

As well as the strikes this week, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has also announced that its members will walk out on February 6 and 7 unless progress is made on pay talks with the government.

Ambulance workers and emergency call handlers will also take to the picket lines on February 6 in a bid to persuade ministers to “get serious on pay”.

Asked whether it was responsible for nurses and ambulance staff to strike on the same day, Gove said: “Naturally we would prefer for there not to any strikes at all and we prefer there not to be co-ordinated strike action of this kind.

“I just say two things, the first is that I am conscious ambulance workers, nurses and others, when they do go on strike action, and I don’t approve of it, I have to say, but they do take steps in order to ensure they can look after the most urgency emergency cases.

“The second thing I would say is we are introducing legislation to make sure that there is a minimum service level, that should provide people with peace of mind that there will always be an NHS there for them, and indeed other blue light services that they need.”

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A Bad Day For Liz Truss – But Twitter Has Been Very Good

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Another day, another round of Tory chaos.

But while the pound bounces around the bottom and mortgage rates surge, the slither of a silver lining is the quality of the content on Twitter.

On Friday, the catastrophic mini-budget struck again as Liz Truss sacked her chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng as she abandoned plans to freeze corporation tax.

Part of a desperate attempt to save her premiership saw Truss appoint Jeremy Hunt as Kwarteng’s replacement in the Treasury, which was followed by a press conference that was as short as it was unapologetic.

Many political reporters, speaking to Tory MPs, suggested the media briefing – eight minutes, just four questions – made things worse. You can see why they might say that.

Speaking of time, here’s a handy refresher.

For reference, the UK has now had four chancellors since July.

Meanwhile, the new chancellor didn’t get off to the best start.

And there was a reminder not to stand too close to either of the top two in government …

… especially if they are indulging in a spot of campanology.

And Britain appeared to be living up to its ‘Normal Island’ nickname.

Back in his constituency, Truss critic Michael Gove was getting on with business.

No, there was absolutely no trolling going on as the former cabinet minister referred to “trip hazards”, “strong leadership”, “funding pressures” and “recruitment and retention”.

And Ed Miliband had been saving one in the chamber for seven years.

As ever, The Thick Of It got there first.

And soon came the memes.

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Boris Johnson Is Doing A Good Job As Prime Minister, Says Michael Gove

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Boris Johnson is doing “a good job” as prime minister, according to Michael Gove – despite nearly 150 of his own MPs voting to get rid of him.

The levelling up secretary said he had “enthusiastically” voted for the prime minister in Monday night’s vote of confidence.

And he insisted he had “made a mistake” during the 2016 Tory leadership contest when he claimed Johnson did not have the necessary skills to lead the country.

Gove had initially been part of Johnson’s campaign team, but pulled out in order to run for the leadership himself.

He said at the time: “I came in the last few days, reluctantly and firmly, to the conclusion that while Boris has great attributes he was not capable of uniting that team and leading the party and the country in the way that I would have hoped.”

The PM survived an attempt to kick him out of Number 10 by his own parliamentary colleagues when he won Monday’s confidence vote by 211 to 148.

But the scale of the rebellion means he remains under huge pressure to turn around the Conservatives’ fortunes.

Asked on Sky News whether he had voted for the PM, Gove said: “Enthusiastically, yes.

“I made a mistake in 2016, a misjudgment. If you’ve been in politics for a little while, as I have been, then there are always mistakes that you can look back on.

“But, no, I think the prime minister is doing a good job.”

When asked whether he would run against Johnson again in a future leadership contest, Gove said: “Oh God, no.”

He added: “I can understand why some of my MP colleagues have concerns and I think it’s important that over the course of the next two years that we demonstrate that the Government is focused on delivering for the people across the United Kingdom.”

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No Emergency Budget For Cost Of Living Crisis, Michael Gove Says

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However, sources close to Sunak quickly made clear that they knew nothing about it, and insisted no new measures were due before the autumn.

Gove suggested commentators were “chasing their own tails” and told Sky News: “There won’t be an emergency budget. It is sometimes the case that the words from a prime minister or minister are overinterpreted.

“The prime minister is right. We will be saying more and doing more in order to help people with the cost-of-living challenge we face at the moment, but that doesn’t amount to an emergency budget. It is part of the work of government.

“Last night the prime minister convened a group of ministers – we have all done work on some of the things we could do to help. Those policy initiatives will be announced by individual departments in due course as they are worked up.

“It is part of the process for a government that is always and everywhere thinking of how we can help and how we can provide support, both short term and long term.”

Lib Dem Treasury spokesperson Christine Jardine described the issue as a “complete shambles.”

She added: “Millions of families and pensioners are struggling to get by. They need more help now before things get even worse in the autumn.

“Instead all we get from this Conservative government is chaos and confusion.

“An emergency budget is needed now to cut taxes for ordinary families while taxing the super profits of oil and gas companies. That would be the fair and right thing to do.”

Johnson made his comments in a debate on the Queen’s Speech, which contained 38 bills but no immediate plans for dealing with the cost of living crisis.

He said: “My right honourable friend the Chancellor and I will be saying more about this in the days to come.

“But at the same time as we help people, we need the legislative firepower to fix the underlying problems in energy supply, in housing, in infrastructure and in skills which are driving up costs for families across the country.

“And this Queen’s Speech takes those issues head on. And above all, we are tackling the economic challenges with the best solution of all and that is an ever growing number of high wage, high skill jobs. Jobs, jobs, jobs.”

An ally of the Chancellor told HuffPost UK there were “no announcements as far as we are aware”.

They added: “Rishi has always been clear that we would set out plans for support on energy bills for autumn when we know what the [energy] price cap is going to be – but we’re not there yet.”

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Tories Heckled As MPs Flock To Boris Johnson-Hosted Dinner On Day Partygate Fines Issued

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Tory ministers arriving at Boris Johnson-hosted dinner were heckled by bereaved Covid families – on the same day police confirmed 20 fines will be issued over gatherings held across Whitehall.

Shouts of “shame on you” and “off to another party are we?” were reportedly heard amid as Conservative MPs arrived at a luxury central London hotel for what was billed as a “team-building” event.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak, levelling up secretary Michael Gove and opportunities minister Jacob Rees-Mogg were among those to arrive at the Park Plaza near Westminster Bridge shortly before 8pm on Tuesday.

Dozens of grief-stricken relatives who lost loved ones during the pandemic lined up outside the entrance to boo guests as they arrived in cars and on foot.

Labour MP Chris Bryant, who chairs parliament’s committee on standards, said: “The more I think about the PM hosting a Westminster party for MPs on the anniversary of the Covid memorial and in the face of the 20 partygate fines for breaking the law at No 10, the more I realise the Tories are laughing at us all. They must think we’re stupid.”

Earlier, the Metropolitan Police confirmed ‘partygate’ investigators will begin handing out 20 fines over gatherings held across Whitehall during Covid measures.

There was a heavy police presence surrounding the hotel and the prime minister is thought to have gained access to the building through a different entrance.

No.10 said on Tuesday if Johnson is among those to receive a fine for attending parties in Downing Street it will let voters know.

June Newbon, who lost her husband to the virus, branded the evening “disgusting” in light of the Met’s conclusion that it believes laws were broken at the heart of government.

She said holding a lavish dinner was especially inappropriate given the cost-of-living crisis hitting millions of people and the war in Ukraine.

“I think it’s disgusting,” she told the PA news agency outside the hotel.

“No-one else can afford to do this given the prices going up, and the war as well.”

Newbon and her daughter Ellie said Conservative politicians would be better placed attending the candlelit procession to mark the first anniversary of the National Covid Memorial Wall, a planned event near the hotel on Westminster Bridge.

Hundreds of bereaved relatives turned up to the walk on Tuesday to commemorate their loved ones and call for the mural to be made permanent.

“I think someone should make their presence known down at the bridge today instead,” Newbon said.

“I think that’s the respect they owe us,” her daughter added.

“We haven’t had an apology from Boris and I don’t feel we’re going to have one tonight.”

Downing Street has denied Johnson misled parliament over the goings-on in Whitehall during the pandemic.

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