Michael Gove ‘may quit cabinet’ over Brexit deal
Environment secretary and Brexiter Michael Gove is reportedly considering resigning from the cabinet this morning.
Gove turned down the role of Brexit minister following Dominic Raab’s resignation yesterday, Morning Wire understands, over fears he would not be allowed to renegotiate a Brexit deal after the Prime Minister’s proved hugely unpopular with senior ministers in her own party.
Theresa May witnessed seven resignations over the course of the day, with Raab’s being the most high profile, sending the pound plunging against the dollar.
Work and pensions secretary Esther McVey also quit, along with a string of junior minister departures.
Now the BBC reports that it understands that Gove is considering quitting, despite helping win support for May’s deal in Wednesday’s five-hour long cabinet meeting to back the draft agreement.
Asked about Gove yesterday, May said he was doing "an excellent job" as environment secretary, and added: “I haven't appointed a new Dexeu [Department for Exiting the European Union] secretary yet and I will be making appointments to the government in due course.”
May is preparing to take questions on her Brexit deal from the public in a phone-in interview on LBC this morning.