Michael Gove

Lichfield’s MP has backed Michael Gove to be the next leader of the Conservatives.

Michael Gove
Michael Gove. Pic: Matthew Smith, Policy Exchange

The battle to succeed David Cameron at Number 10 has seen a number of MPs throw their hats into the ring – although Boris Johnson will not be one of them.

But following the announcement that the Mr Gove would be taking part in the leadership election, Michael Fabricant gave his backing to the former Education Secretary.

Michael Fabricant MP
Michael Fabricant MP

“Michael Gove demonstrated a clear level-headedness during the EU referendum and was the intellectual bedrock for the campaign which was so successful,” the Lichfield MP said.

“Although I admire Boris hugely, Michael offers clarity and logic in thought and a socially liberal outlook which will be so needed by our nation’s Prime Minister.

“And in the months to come it will be those qualities, combined with a steeliness of purpose which he has admirably demonstrated in the past, that will be required to negotiate our Brexit once Article 50 is triggered and result in a successful outcome for the United Kingdom and our friends in Europe.”

Bookmakers currently have Theresa May as favourite, with Mr Gove second favourite to win the leadership battle.

Founder of Lichfield Live and editor of the site.

38 Comments
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Kenny
7 years ago

Gove is a gaming playing politician, no conviction, just his career at the heart of everything he does.

If he does become leader I hope he calls a General Election, after all we wouldn’t want to be dictated to by an unelected PM. He campaigned remove unelected EU bureaucrats during the referendum, what’s the difference?

mike
7 years ago

Thanks Mr. Fabricant but one clueless madia hoar with stupid hair is already one too many for the good of this country, nobody cares what you think. Especially as you will no doubt have changed your mind in 5 minutes anyway.

Toast
7 years ago

It doesn’t matter which of the Tories wins the leadership contest, Fabbo will become bezzie mates with them in no time. He plays it safe with the leadership, to ensure he keeps his easy seat each GE. It’s hard not to like the loveable, clumsy clown. Unless you’re one of his constituents who has been to every Hustings event (and the ones Fab couldn’t be bothered to attend), you get to hear the lies he spouts, the promises he makes that he’s 100% looking out for Lichfield – which turns out to be, in fact, utter bs.

Rob
7 years ago

hoar?
I know it’s been cool for the time of year……………..

Steve
7 years ago

It is interesting to see how personal gain and ambition is far more important to so many of our politicians, rather than trust and honour.

Gove has become toxic now, what he did to Boris, has destroyed his credibility.

Some MP’s and Ministers have now damaged their careers, by backing the wrong candidate.

Would be lovely to see the best candidate becoming PM and also the top performers joining the cabinet. Seems like most of it will be based on who you know, rather than what you know.

Toast
7 years ago

Lordy, imagine Fabricant in the Cabinet

*infinite face palm*

Scribbler
7 years ago

Flip. Flop.
Flip. Flop.
It was amusing to see our MP gives his fullsome support to Boris in an enthusiastic statement on social media. And then to see the same statement 24 hours later with Gove’s name replacing Bo-Jo’s.
Now that Gove has become toxic within the party, can we expect another change of heart and our MP switch his fullsome, 100% support to another candidate?
Flip. Flop.
Flip. Flop.
I’m not amused by this clown in flip flops.

Darryl
7 years ago

One day, Lichfield will get a real MP, who cares about everyone, not just the ‘grey vote.’

Scribbler
7 years ago

It is probably also worth point out that our MP backed Boris and the following day BoJo announced he wouldn’t stand as leader.
And within hours of switching to Gove, the knives were out for him too.

This seems to confirm our MP possesses the gift of the Reverse Midas Effect.

JennyScience
7 years ago

Now that Andrew Marr has interviewed a couple of candidates, should we expect another change of mind from our MP?
I didn’t think Gove came across very well.
Mr Fabricant should switch asap to someone else.
There’s still a few candidates to choose from so he has time before he makes his final, final, final choice. Or he could just wait until a winner is declared and then announce: “Of course, I always felt that (insert winner’s name) was head and shoulders above all the other candidates and will get my 100% support.”

Of course, Mr Fabricant is simply providing the evidence of everything that is wrong with our political system and those who get elected.
Finally, he’s doing something I can support!

AgitatorofPeople
7 years ago

Regardless of who Michael Fabricant is backing, the next PM will be running a government that looks nothing like it was pre Brexit that currently has no plans in place and once they do, will it be what the public actually wants? (and this is aside to the EU Brexit) we are about to have in effect a new government elected by the Conservative membership which is roughly 0.003% of the population.
The change in government, policy and mandate is so big, that this should bring in to call a General Election regardless of “fixed term” government and be open to all parties to lay out their policies for a democratic “electorate” vote.

Nick
7 years ago

Darryl. Ludicrous statement. Check out his majority.

Nick
7 years ago

AgitatorofPeople. Or you could argue that the next PM will have the biggest mandate any PM has ever had, as long as they ensure a timely Brexit.

I take your point about 150,000 party members voting on who the PM will be. But I had to suck it up when Bliar handed the reins over to Brown.

And, as a lifelong Tory, I’d be more than happy for a snap General Election. The question is: would Labour even make it into treble figures re. number of MPs?

Steve
7 years ago

Gove is so untrustworthy, I wouldn’t even trust him, to vote for himself.

Nick
7 years ago
Reply to  Steve

Steve. You may be right. But I would trust May, even less.

Rob
7 years ago

The bleating and wailing from the usual quarters suggest Andrea Leadsom may be the one to back.

JennyScience
7 years ago

Has our MP switched to Andrea Leadsom yet as she finished 2nd and Gove only managed 3rd?
He’s only got until Thursday morning to provide his whole-hearted support to another candidate. He’s running out of time.

Brett
7 years ago

This tells you all you need to know about Fabricant; completely useless and does not represent me as a constituent. He is an embarrassment to the City.

Scribbler
7 years ago

I see Gove is now out after finishing a poor third.
Our MP sure knows how to pick a winner…and Lichfield sure knows how to pick an MP.

Nick
7 years ago
Reply to  Brett

Brett. You are entitled to your opinion, of course. But I certainly don’t consider Michael Fabricant to be an embarrassment to Lichfield. And if you look at the general election result, I’m not alone in thinking this.

Gove, on a purely intellectual level, probably was the best candidate. On a trustworthiness level, though, he fails, and would almost certainly not have commanded the support of party members, who generally favoured Boris.

Rob
7 years ago

Yes, dribbler, Lichfield picked him with an increased majority every time.

Rob
7 years ago

Anyhow, the Conservative Party are about to bestow their second female Prime Minister on our nation, something the tolerant, progressive, left seem to have had some difficulty achieving.

Steve Norman
7 years ago

First he supports Johnson. Then he supports Gove. Can’t wait to find out who is going to lose the next round – once he tells Lichfield live who he’s supporting next.

Rob
7 years ago

Funny how the twitteratti are all piping up about the Conservative contest. I suppose they’ve given up on their own “leadership”.

Scribbler
7 years ago

Twitteratti = The electorate
British politics = A big, smelly mess.
Say nothing = Not acceptable.
Having an opinion = Democracy.
Not sharing the same opinion as you = Sh!t happens, get over yourself.

Rob
7 years ago

“Having an opinion = Democracy.
Not sharing the same opinion as you = Sh!t happens, get over yourself.”

One for the remainers there, also critics of Fabricant, thanks.

Asellus aquaticus
7 years ago

I wonder if he has left it a bit late to back Leadsom…

Missed a trick there.

JennyScience
7 years ago

Of course, our MP wanted May to be PM all along.
It was all part of an elaborate scheme he was the architect of and it worked to perfection.
He’s amazing and we are so lucky to call him Lichfield’s own.

Rob
7 years ago

The usual dimwits are now coming out to complain that Theresa May wasn’t elected as PM.

JennyScience
7 years ago

Surely the point is that although people voted Conservative as the main party, there is sufficient significant change in the political landscape to at least discuss the possibility of a new election.

We didn’t vote for a PM. But we also didn’t vote for a Government that would lead us into Brexit.
As Cameron was the leader and he was Remain, his Government’s agenda was based around us staying in the EU.

We are now going to leave the EU under a new leadership with a new agenda – it has to be a new agenda as Brexit will impact right across the board.

So, far from being dimwitted, I’m asking a serious question as a long-time Conservative supporter – why shouldn’t we have a general election when there has been such a colossal shift in the UK’s political landscape?

Rob
7 years ago

We voted for, and elected, a government that was offering a referendum on EU membership. The referendum was held, end of.

Nick
7 years ago
Reply to  JennyScience

JennyScience. Your argument is a bit of a non sequitur.

We voted for a government that would give us a vote on EU membership. They did and the vote was to leave. Yes, an unexpected result, particularly after the doom-laden predictions by the establishment, media, Obama etc. But, clearly, one of the possible outcomes.

Even if we had another election, no party could realistically campaign on a manifesto of ignoring the referendum result. Do you really believe that a party that did so, would be swept into power, based on the voting in the referendum?

An election now would have two possible outcomes: another Tory majority or a hung parliament, probably with more seats going to UKIP. Far from calming things down, this would add to current market volatility.

As a minimum, the new PM needs to set out the strategy for exit, make soundings to other countries that wish to trade with us and invoke Article 50. Anything less, simply perpetuates future uncertainty.

AgitatorofPeople
7 years ago

Good question JS, there is such a seismic shift in just about every area of our government that will be affected by leaving the EU that policy and mandate will require changing. Been told today by Theresa May that there will not be a General Election until 2020 is almost like saying that we are now a fascist state working solely to her own enlightened diktat, she is going to make Camerons government look like a bunch of touchy feely lefties.

JennyScience
7 years ago

Rob & Nick: Yes, the policy was to hold a referendum.
But Government policy was based around the PM and the Chancellor’s view that we should stay in the EU. The fact that we voted to leave means that policies will change fundamentally because we have to change course on a number of key areas.
As a result, that is a sufficiently significant change of direction to warrant at least a grown-up discussion on whether a GE should be called.

I’m sorry, but simply saying it was a manifesto pledge to have a referendum on the EU doesn’t answer that question about the Government needing to shift direction in such a fundamental way.
What I’m suggesting is that all parties should have a chance to state what policies and direction they will take us in once Article 50 is triggered and we head for Brexit. I’m not suggesting its a way of overturning the EU vote.

Then again, I realise I’m being naive in asking for grown-up debates and grown-up politics in the first place. We’re in this mess because we haven’t had either of those things for far too long.

Asellus aquaticus
7 years ago

Theresa May was vociferous in her call for a general election when Gordon Brown ‘inherited’ his PM role following Blair’s exit.

Better an alleged dimwit than a proven hypocrite.

Nick
7 years ago
Reply to  JennyScience

JennyScience. AgitatorofPeople. Asellus aquaticus.

I vote Tory and voted to Leave. A general election right now would be a disaster, but probably not for the reasons you’d imagine I would think.

Labour is not a credible opposition party. LibDems…who? The Tories would win with an increased majority. And, even as a Tory, I would NOT welcome this.

The new PM is an authoritarian and needs to be held to account. That is best achieved by having only a small majority. Can you imagine Theresa May with a majority of 150?

Personally, I’d favour suspension of party politics for the next 2-3 years, so that the sharpest minds from all sides can get together to secure the best outcome for Britain.

I agree that we should have had a grown-up debate. As usual, campaigners from both sides descended into soundbites, catchphrases and doom-mongering.

I’d favour a 2nd referendum before we invoke Article 50, as long as the reality of the choices was spelt out clearly:

Stay in EU means we are properly in, not our present half in-half out, carping from the sidelines position: Adopt Euro, accept federal Europe and supremacy of European court and military. OR

Leave EU, with a credible and workable plan re. market access, freedom of movement etc.

We now have roughly 2 and a half years to get ourselves sorted. We can’t do this if we’re going to spend half that time playing party politics.

Rob
7 years ago

What’s the point of a discussion about a GE? Hasn’t there been enough political debate for you lately? Either have an election or don’t,but lets not have yet more debate about something that’s not even necessary.
Having to “shift direction” in response to events is part of the art of governance.

JennyScience
7 years ago

Thanks Nick – I think we’re probably in agreement.
I don’t like the simplistic dismissal of a GE I’m hearing from some.

You are right – our political system is a total mess.
Despite arguing that we should have a grown-up debate about a GE, I agree it would be a waste of time at the moment and would more likely cause an even bigger pile of smelly stuff because there is no credible opposition.

I’d go further and say the party I vote for is too divided at the moment as well. I just think the Tories have been slightly better in hiding them.

It is a bit like the winner of the Apprentice task each week – the victors are those who are not quite as crap as the other team.

That’s not a great political system to feel engaged with.