Michael Gove says 31 October Brexit deadline is ‘arbitrary’
Tory leadership hopeful says he would consider short delay if deal was close
Tory leadership contender Michael Gove regards the UK’s 31 October Brexit deadline as “arbitrary” and says he is “not wedded” to it.
The environment secretary told a hustings event that Britain must not be bound by a “fixed” date if more time is needed to get a deal, but insisted any further delay would be a matter of weeks, not months.
Writing in the Daily Mail, Gove repeated the point, saying he would be willing to sanction a short delay to allow “a little extra time” if a deal is close.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The Daily Express says Gove’s remarks “sparked fury”, while PoliticsHome notes that his position is “in marked contrast” to a number of his leadership opponents.
“In comments that will infuriate rivals Boris Johnson and Dominic Raab he said those ready to default to a No Deal to get out of the EU by the end of October didn’t appear to ‘believe in this country’,” says The Sun, which warns of a “Tory civil war”.
The BBC’s Chris Mason agrees that his comment “marks the opening up of a clear dividing line in this race” and says his critics “will see it as him going soft”.
Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith was quickly out of the traps to condemn Gove’s position, saying: “The salvation of the Conservative Party lies in getting out on October 31st. It seems he no longer cares about Brexiteers and is playing to another gallery.”
Meanwhile, another Downing Street hopeful, Matt Hancock, has described Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn as an anti-Semite. In inflammatory remarks, the health secretary said that if Corbyn became prime minister, the UK “could end up with the first anti-Semitic leader of a Western nation since the Second World War”.
Labour called it a “baseless political attack”. A party source said Hancock’s words “ring hollow from a minister in a party that has supported governments that actively promote anti-Semitic policies in Hungary and Poland and has spent the week wooing Trump, the man who refused to condemn neo-fascists in Charlottesville who chanted ‘Jews will not replace us’”.
In other developments in the leadership race, former Brexit secretary Raab has refused to rule out working with Nigel Farage or proroguing parliament to stop MPs blocking a no-deal Brexit, while Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt has rejected comparisons between himself and the current prime minister, saying: “I am not Theresa in trousers.”
Eleven candidates are battling to succeed May as Tory leader and prime minister. The winner of the contest will be announced at the end of July.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Today's political cartoons - April 21, 2024
Cartoons Sunday's cartoons - devilish decrees, biblical blunders, and more
By The Week US Published
-
5 carefully selected cartoons about the Trump-Daniels jury selection process
Cartoons Artists take on a stress-free life, rare peers, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Loire Valley Lodges review: sleep, feast and revive in treetop luxury
The Week Recommends Forest hideaway offers chance to relax and reset in Michelin key-winning comfort
By Julia O'Driscoll, The Week UK Published
-
Is David Cameron overshadowing Rishi Sunak?
Talking Point Current PM faces 'thorny dilemma' as predecessor enjoys return to world stage
By The Week UK Published
-
Will Aukus pact survive a second Trump presidency?
Today's Big Question US, UK and Australia seek to expand 'game-changer' defence partnership ahead of Republican's possible return to White House
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Farewell to Theresa May: a PM consumed by Brexit
Talking Point Maidenhead MP standing down at next general election
By The Week UK Published
-
Can Boris Johnson save Rishi Sunak?
Today's Big Question Former PM could 'make the difference' between losing the next election and annihilation
By The Week UK Published
-
It's the economy, Sunak: has 'Rishession' halted Tory fightback?
Today's Big Question PM's pledge to deliver economic growth is 'in tatters' as stagnation and falling living standards threaten Tory election wipeout
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Why your local council may be going bust
The Explainer Across England, local councils are suffering from grave financial problems
By The Week UK Published
-
Rishi Sunak and the right-wing press: heading for divorce?
Talking Point The Telegraph launches 'assault' on PM just as many Tory MPs are contemplating losing their seats
By Keumars Afifi-Sabet, The Week UK Published
-
How would a second Trump presidency affect Britain?
Today's Big Question Re-election of Republican frontrunner could threaten UK security, warns former head of secret service
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published