PM’s fury over Gove betrayal in 60-second phone call
A BITTER David Cameron spent no more than 60 seconds on the phone when he called to congratulate former close friend Michael Gove on winning the referendum.
And he made it clear he would flatly refuse Mr Gove’s plea to lead negotiations to extricate Britain from the EU.
The terse exchange reflects the deep bitterness felt by Mr Cameron and wife Samantha towards Mr Gove – who was godfather to their disabled son Ivan, who died in 2009 – and journalist wife Sarah Vine.
Mr Cameron’s refusal to get involved in Brexit talks with Brussels was a major blow to Mr Gove and Vote Leave ally Boris Johnson.
It means they must tackle the hugely complex job themselves – even though Mr Cameron will not step down until October.
The Camerons’ pain at losing the referendum was magnified by their close political and personal connection to three of the chief architects of the Brexit triumph: Gove, Johnson and Cameron’s former No 10 aide Steve Hilton.
Like Mr Gove, Mr Hilton was also godfather to Ivan and has known Mr Cameron since their Oxford University days.
A well-placed source said: ‘It was no surprise to Dave and Sam that Boris put his political ambition first, but what Michael and Steve did really hurt. They were close family friends, but not any more. Sam feels it particularly badly.
‘Michael considers himself an intellectual and for him to scorn every expert that the PM produced to back the Remain case, even comparing them to the Nazis, was shameful.
‘The same applies to Hilton, who told an outright lie claiming the PM would vote for Brexit if he wasn’t in No10.’
The source contrasted US-based millionaire Mr Hilton’s luxury life- style with the plight of ordinary Britons who voted for Brexit.
‘He jetted in from his California mansion, persuaded millions of working-class people to vote for an economic future with fewer jobs, and jetted back to his Californian mansion.’
Another Government source claimed Mr Gove and Mr Johnson were as shocked as millions of others by their victory. ‘It was a public relations stunt gone wrong,’ said the source.
‘They thought Boris would emerge as a heroic loser who had proved his Tory credentials and secured his right to be Cameron’s successor.
‘But it blew up in their faces and they will have to clear the mess up.’
Further evidence of the anger of the Camerons wider family circle surfaced when Samantha’s halfbrother Rob Shepherd, 31, appealed on Instagram for people to join the Tory Party to stop ‘moron Boris’ replacing Mr Cameron in the forthcoming leadership contest.
Other disaffected Conservatives sent emails urging people to pay the £25 Tory membership fee and vote against Mr Johnson.