Portrait of Michael Gove
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Michael Gove on Kemi Badenoch

Supporter and ally (strong)

TL;DR

Michael Gove strongly backs Kemi Badenoch, describing her as a brilliant and principled candidate capable of leading the Conservative Party.

Key Points

  • He described her as “brave, principled, brilliant and kind” while backing her in a Tory leadership race in July 2022.

  • Gove praised her detailed policy propositions, including on immigration, as superior to those put forward by a rival right-wing party.

  • He mentioned her as part of a generation of new talent supported by the Onward think tank in February 2023.

Summary

Michael Gove has publicly expressed strong support for Kemi Badenoch, particularly in the context of a Conservative Party leadership contest. He described the former minister as brave, principled, brilliant, and kind, noting that she did not falter when leading on the government’s response to the Commission on Racial and Ethnic disparities report. He asserted that she delivers on policy execution, referencing her work on implementing levelling up initiatives. Gove previously wrote that she would be Sir Keir Starmer's 'worst nightmare' as a Tory leader, praising her focus and intellect needed to address the nation’s significant problems.

Furthermore, the former cabinet minister highlighted her capabilities in a broader political context, contrasting her position with historical precedents. He pointed out that she faces a unique challenge as a leader due to the existence of a rival on the right, unlike Margaret Thatcher when she sought the leadership. Gove also commended her detailed policy propositions, such as those on immigration, stating that one cannot outdo the anger articulated by a party like Reform UK but can offer better answers to difficult questions.

Key Quotes

What I think Conservative leaders should do, but what I think will not happen, is that they should say: 'I am so sorry about the Liz Truss mini-Budget. And do you know why we got it wrong? We got it wrong because we preferred ideology and self-regard to reality and thinking about the whole country. That will never happen again, and I'm going to change the way in which leaders are elected in order to ensure that it doesn't.'

Frequently Asked Questions

Michael Gove holds a strongly positive view of Kemi Badenoch, frequently praising her intellect and principles. He has actively supported her candidacy in Conservative leadership contests, viewing her as a strong political asset for the party.

Yes, Michael Gove endorsed Kemi Badenoch during a Conservative Party leadership race, describing her as brilliant and capable of winning arguments. He wrote in support of her vision for a nimble centre-right approach to governing.

He suggested that Kemi Badenoch has the focus and intellect needed to provide detailed answers to difficult political problems. Gove specifically stated that she could not 'outdo Reform' on the basis of anger alone but could succeed with superior policy answers.

Sources8

* This is not an exhaustive list of sources.