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Michael Gove Quotes

Michael Andrew Gove is a British politician of the Conservative Party who was Secretary of State for Education from 2010 to 2014 and Secretary of State for Justice from 2015 to 2016. He became Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in the cabinet reshuffle on 11 June 2017. He has been the Member of Parliament for Surrey Heath since 2005. He is also an author and a columnist for The Times.Born in Edinburgh, Gove was raised in Aberdeen and attended Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford, where he took a BA in English, graduating with an upper second, after which he began his career as a journalist. He was first elected to the House of Commons in the 2005 election for the safe Conservative seat of Surrey Heath. He was appointed to the Shadow Cabinet by David Cameron in 2007 as Shadow Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families.

After the formation of the Coalition Government in 2010, Gove was appointed Education Secretary. Gove sought to expand the academies programme introduced by the previous Labour Government. At its 2013 conference, Gove was criticised by the National Association of Head Teachers, whose members condemned the "climate of bullying, fear and intimidation" they said he had created during his time as Education Secretary, and passed a vote of no confidence in his policies. Votes of no confidence were passed by the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, National Union of Teachers and NASUWT at their conferences in 2013.In a 2014 Cabinet reshuffle, Gove was moved to the post of Chief Whip. Following the 2015 election, Gove was promoted to the office of Justice Secretary and Lord Chancellor. In 2016, Gove played a major role in the UK's referendum on EU membership as the co-convenor of Vote Leave and along with Boris Johnson, became a key figurehead of the campaign.

On 30 June 2016, Gove, who was campaign manager for Boris Johnson's drive to become Prime Minister, withdrew his support on the morning that Johnson was due to declare, and announced his own candidacy in the leadership election. In the first round of voting, Gove came third to Theresa May and Andrea Leadsom. He was eliminated from the leadership race on the second ballot on 7 July 2016. Following her appointment as Prime Minister, May did not appoint him to the Cabinet on 14 July 2016; however, he returned to the Cabinet following the 2017 General Election as Environment Secretary.

✵ 26. August 1967
Michael Gove photo
Michael Gove: 18   quotes 1   like

Famous Michael Gove Quotes

“Animals are sentient beings who feel pain and suffering, so we are writing that principle into law and ensuring that we protect their welfare. Our plans will also increase sentences for those who commit the most heinous acts of animal cruelty to five years in jail. We are a nation of animal lovers so we will make Brexit work not just for citizens but for the animals we love and cherish too.”

Michael Gove

Michael Gove: I'll make Brexit work for animals too https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-42313313, BBC News, 12 December 2017
2017

“I think that the people of this country have had enough of experts with organisations from acronyms saying - from organisations with acronyms - saying that they know what is best and getting it consistently wrong, because these people - these people - are the same ones who got consistently wrong.”

Michael Gove

6 June 2016, in interview with Faisal Islam https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGgiGtJk7MA. Usually misquoted as "I think people in this country have had enough of experts" due to Islam interrupting Gove mid-sentence.

“There are lots of other folk, including in the Cabinet who could easily be prime minister, I am not one of them. I could not be prime minister, I am not equipped to be prime minister, I don’t want to be prime minister.”

Michael Gove

Speaking on The World at One radio programme (2012)
2012

“I did almost everything not to be a candidate for the leadership of this party. I was so very reluctant because I know my limitations. Whatever charisma is, I don't have it. Whatever glamour may be, I don't think anyone could ever associate me with it. I am standing for the leadership not as a result of calculation; I am standing with the burning desire to transform our country. Because my heart tells me that if we are bold, if we refuse to settle for business as usual, if we dare to dream and summon up all the qualities that have made this country the greatest in the world, then for Britain - and its people - our best days lie ahead.”

Michael Gove

Announcing his candidacy to be Tory leader and Prime Minister http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-36679741 (1 July 2016)
2016

“I'm constitutionally incapable of it. There's a special extra quality you need that is indefinable, and I know I don't have it. There's an equanimity, an impermeability and a courage that you need. There are some things in life you know it's better not to try.”

Michael Gove

Quoted in Standpoint magazine http://www.standpointmag.co.uk/features-march-12-will-gove-go-all-the-way-to-no-10-iain-martin-michael-gove-conservatives-david-cameron (March 2012)
2012

“I think that there are a number of economic factors in play. Some prices may go up. Other prices will come down.”

Michael Gove

Brexit: NI retailers challenge Michael Gove on no-deal food supply https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-49545139 BBC News (1 September 2019)
2019

Michael Gove Quotes about the future

“The point that I made in the article is that if any of us lapse sometimes from standards that we uphold, that is human. The thing to do is not necessarily then to say that the standards should be lowered. It should be to reflect on the lapse and to seek to do better in the future.”

Michael Gove

Michael Gove admits he was lucky to avoid jail over cocaine use https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-48572982, BBC News, 9 June 2019
2019

“A future prime minister could always choose to alter the relationship between Britain and the European Union. But the Chequers approach is the right one for now because we have got to make sure that we respect that vote and take advantage of the opportunities of being outside the European Union.”

Michael Gove

Brexit: Future PM 'could change EU relationship' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-45541240 BBC News (16 September 2018)
2018

“I have repeatedly said that I do not want to be prime minister. That has always been my view. But events since last Thursday have weighed heavily with me. I respect and admire all the candidates running for the leadership. In particular, I wanted to help build a team behind Boris Johnson so that a politician who argued for leaving the European Union could lead us to a better future. But I have come, reluctantly, to the conclusion that Boris cannot provide the leadership or build the team for the task ahead.”

Michael Gove

Michael Gove and Theresa May head five-way Conservative race https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-36671336, BBC News, 30 June 2016
2016

“My view is that whatever happens in the future we will be in a strong position to deal with any crises that occur as a result of leaving the EU.”

Michael Gove

Michael Gove calls for 'balanced' migration system on Question Time special https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-eu-referendum-36542417 BBC News (15 June 2016)
2016

Michael Gove Quotes

“The reality of Christian mission in today’s churches is a story of thousands of quiet kindnesses. In many of our most disadvantaged communities it is the churches that provide warmth, food, friendship and support for individuals who have fallen on the worst of times. The homeless, those in the grip of alcoholism or drug addiction, individuals with undiagnosed mental health problems and those overwhelmed by multiple crises are all helped — in innumerable ways — by Christians.”

Michael Gove

2015

Time , Friendship , Food , Support

“No deal is now a very real prospect.”

Michael Gove

No-deal Brexit now 'assumed' by government, says Gove https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-49141375 BBC News (28 July 2019)
2019

“If there are Islamophobes in the Conservative Party - and there are - we should root them out.”

Michael Gove

Tory leadership race: Five key moments from debate https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-48683593 BBC News (18 June 2019)
2019

“It will not be the case that we will have zero-rate tariffs on food products. There will be protections for sensitive sections of agriculture and food production.”

Michael Gove

Brexit: UK will apply food tariffs in case of no deal https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-47291378 BBC News (19 February 2019)
2019

Food

“No-one can be blithe or blase about the real impact on food producers in this country of leaving without a deal.”

Michael Gove

Speech at the Oxford Farming Conference https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-46743164, BBC News, 3 January 2019
2019

Country , Food

“The creation of national parks almost 70 years ago changed the way we view our precious landscapes - helping us all access and enjoy our natural world. We want to make sure they are not only conserved, but enhanced for the next generation. Are we properly supporting all those who live in, work in, or want to visit these magnificent places? Should we indeed be extending our areas of designated land?”

Michael Gove

England could have new national parks in Gove review https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-44268724, BBC News, 27 May 2018
2018

Support , Help , Nature , Way

“As I look back on that time, I think that there were mistakes that I made… I also think that my initial instinct that I was not the best person to put themselves forward as a potential prime minister, well most of my colleagues agreed.”

Michael Gove

Michael Gove: Theresa May was 'right to sack me' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-38267368, BBC News, 9 December 2016
2016

Personality , Thinking , Time

“The day after we vote to leave we hold all the cards and we can choose the path we want.”

Michael Gove

Speech at the Vote Leave offices in London http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/michael-gove/michael-gove-vote-leave_b_9728548.html (19 April 2016)
2016

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