Michael Gove admits ‘moral cowardice’ during Brexit campaign

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Michael Gove has admitted to “moral cowardice” during the Brexit campaign after not telling then-prime minister David Cameron about his outstanding position within the Leave campaign.

The levelling-up secretary stated he was persuaded to take up a much bigger job by Vote Leave campaign coordinator and former Boris Johnson aide Dominic Cummings.

He made the feedback to former chancellor George Osborne on the Political Currency podcast, which can also be hosted by former Labour shadow chancellor Ed Balls.

Mr Osborne, a steadfast Remainer, stated that Mr Gove had promised Lord Cameron he wouldn’t take up a “prominent role” within the campaign, however ended up one of the crucial seen members of the Vote Leave group.

The former chancellor requested Mr Gove: “Did you deceive David? He certainly felt, at the time, betrayed.”

Mr Gove denied that be betrayed Lord Cameron, however added: “As I mentioned, I do think that I could have been clearer earlier.

“And I think that was an example of, on the one hand, cowardice on my part, moral cowardice, on the other hand, a recognition that perhaps there’s this feeling in politics, perhaps something will turn up, perhaps this moment won’t come when we have to make that decision.

“But I think David, entirely fairly, should have expected me to have been more upfront earlier.”

Mr Gove stated he ended up “going further” than he thought within the campaign as he ended up in tv debates and political reveals as a consultant for Vote Leave.

Mr Balls requested the levelling up secretary if Mr Cummings’s affect was one motive he turned extra concerned than he thought he would in the beginning of the Brexit campaign.

Mr Gove responded: “Yes. And again, one of the arguments was ‘if you don’t do this, they’ll have Farage on’, and then with a sweep of his arm pointing to all the people in the office, including people who had been working with me for years, said: ‘You cannot let these people down’.”

He added that not like Mr Osborne, who stayed up all evening to see the results of the referendum, he solely knew Vote Leave had received when his spouse woke him up the following morning.

“I didn’t wake anyone up, I just went and lay on the sofa wide awake,” he stated. “And not only did I think, as I still do, this is a disaster for my country, I just knew it was an absolute disaster for my career, it was basically the end of my political career. It’s definitely, of my political career – of any part of my career – the most traumatic day of my life.”

Mr Cameron and Mr Gove have been previously shut pals however fell out in 2016 over Mr Gove’s energetic position in main the Brexit campaign towards him.