Michael Gove on Boris Johnson

Michael Gove has expressed regret over his dramatic 2016 intervention where he effectively ended Boris Johnson's initial bid to become Conservative leader following the Brexit referendum. Gove, who had been a prominent ally during the Leave campaign, ultimately decided that Johnson "cannot provide the leadership or build the team for the task ahead," leading to accusations of political betrayal. While he admits it would likely have been better to keep his concerns private, he cited a perceived "fundamental unseriousness" in Johnson's behaviour immediately after the vote as the catalyst for his decision.

More recently, as ministers sought to move past the former Prime Minister's tenure, Gove adopted a line suggesting political evolution, stating that "life moves on" after Johnson resigned as an MP. This position marks a distancing from the past, acknowledging Johnson's "significant contributions" while firmly placing him in the Conservatives' history. Gove stated he would reserve judgment on the Privileges Committee report, indicating a need to assess the facts before voting on any potential sanctions.