Michael Gove says he will become Brexit Secretary – but only on THESE conditions
MICHAEL Gove could accept the job of Brexit Secretary in Theresa May's Cabinet - but the Environment Secretary will only take it if he can renegotiate the terms of the Prime Minister's deal with Brussels.
Dominic Raab RESIGNS as Brexit Secretary
Mr Gove not only wants to renegotiate the terms, but also wants the November EU summit to be scrapped, The Daily Telegraph reports. He is currently considering quitting Cabinet while deciding on if he will become Brexit Secretary after Dominic Raab quit this morning. His demands to accept the new role or quit the Cabinet would both come at a significant blow for the Prime Minister, it is reported.
It is understood the Prime Minister wants to keep Mr Gove in Cabinet as other resignations could follow.
Mr Gove was said to be supportive of Theresa May's 585-page draft agreement, which she announced on Wednesday night.
And the Environment Secretary backed Mrs May’s Chequers deal in July.
Mr Gove, who is currently Environment Secretary, has been a key ally of Mrs May through her Brexit negotiations with the EU.
Brexit: Cabinet resignations since 2017 general election
It was believed that Mr Gove's possible acceptance of the role would have been a crucial move for Mrs May.
Mr Gove was supportive of the Prime Minister’s position at the emergency Cabinet meeting on Wednesday.
The Prime Minister has faced seven resignations from her Cabinet since addressed the House of Commons on Thursday morning.
Among them was her Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab.
Mr Raab’s undersecretary Suella Braverman took the role but quit a short time after to “support the Prime Minister from the back benches”.
Michael Gove was later named as a possible replacement for the contentious position.
It emerged that Mr Gove had been offered the Secretary of State position but rejected it, according to reports in the Telegraph and Evening Standard.
Mr Gove signed off on a December joint report that was said to have caused the Brexit headache for Mrs May.
Mr Gove was absent from the House of Commons on Thursday morning for personal reasons - missing a fractious morning as Theresa May addressed MPs.
Ahead of her address, Dominic Raab quit the position of Brexit Secretary.
Ladbrookes says Mr Gove has a 12/1 shot at the role with Mr Raab the favourite.
Jessica Bridge of Ladbrokes said: "Raab's no fool, and his resignation puts him in pole position to swoop in as the next Tory leader, as and when May departs."
Esther McVey also announced she was resigning as Work and Pensions Secretary as she could not defend a deal which meant the UK "handing over control to the EU".