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Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favorite tales on this weekly publication.
Michael Gove, one of many best-known and most controversial figures in Conservative politics of latest occasions, has drawn a line below a Westminster profession spanning virtually 20 years.
“The possibility to serve is great,” Gove mentioned in a resignation letter. “However there comes a time when you recognize that it’s time to go away — {that a} new era ought to lead.”
Gove, housing secretary in Rishi Sunak’s authorities, joins an exodus of just about 80 Tory MPs standing down earlier than the July 4 election, a lot of them fearing imminent defeat within the polls.
The 56-year-old Gove was assured he may win his Surrey Heath seat, the place he was first elected in 2005, however even an 18,349 majority was seen as surmountable by his principal opponents, the Liberal Democrats.
In any occasion, the prospect of years in opposition was unlikely to attraction to a minister with a powerful report in workplace: many Tory MPs title Gove as one of the crucial profitable reformers the occasion has had because it took workplace in 2010.
He made his title as training secretary in David Cameron’s first coalition authorities, selling college reforms that he claimed in his resignation letter had helped to elevate Britain up worldwide league tables.
Gove later went on to turn into a liberal-minded justice secretary, an brisk surroundings secretary and, latterly, a champion of the rights of tenants — operating into opposition from many Tory MPs who’re landlords.
However Gove is maybe finest remembered — and reviled in some quarters — for his position in main the Depart marketing campaign within the 2016 Brexit referendum, a task that pitted him towards his previous good friend Cameron.
In the identical yr got here the second which earned him a fame for treachery, when he stabbed Boris Johnson within the again as his Vote Depart colleague campaigned to succeed Cameron as Tory chief.
Gove’s determination to dump Johnson — he had been his marketing campaign supervisor — and to face as his rival entered the annals of Westminster infamy. “Everyone is aware of I made a mistake then,” Gove admitted 5 years later.
After that episode Gove was usually suspected of being behind many Tory plots at Westminster, certainly Brexiters had been amongst these least trustful of his motives.
Nonetheless, he was additionally fashionable amongst many colleagues — together with MPs from different events — together with his old-school courtesy, consideration to element and witty performances on the despatch field.
In his resignation letter, Gove mentioned he was happy with his position in securing Brexit, claiming it had allowed Britain “to take again management of our political future”.
He admitted that he had “undoubtedly made errors” however mentioned he had “at all times tried to be a voice for individuals who have been ignored and undervalued”.
“I’ve tried to struggle for higher social justice. My training reforms had been designed to construct a rustic the place everybody — regardless of their background — can turn into the authors of their very own life tales,” he added.
Gove was born Graeme Andrew Logan in 1967 however was put into care quickly after his delivery. He was adopted by a pair from Aberdeen on the age of 4 months and went on to attend Robert Gordon’s Faculty and Woman Margaret Corridor, Oxford.
Earlier than getting into politics — and in interludes in his ministerial profession — Gove was a outstanding journalist with a profession that included engaged on The Occasions. A favorite of Rupert Murdoch, many anticipate him to return to frontline journalism after leaving politics.
