Cameron set to take ‘revenge’ on former ally

David Cameron had no closer political and personal ally than Michael Gove during his rapid ascent to the Conservative leadership and Downing Street.

Their families lived closed to one another, went on holiday together and Mr Gove’s wife, Sarah Vine, became godmother to the Camerons’ daughter Florence.

But their friendship has been torn apart by the European Union referendum campaign, with the former Prime Minister still smarting at what he regarded as Mr Gove’s treachery in deciding to lead the Leave campaign. The two men have not spoken since Britain voted for Brexit, abruptly ending Mr Cameron’s political career, more than two years ago.

Time has not healed the wounds and Mr Cameron is reported to be preparing to take revenge on his former friend in his memoirs. They are set to be published next year – just at the moment when Mr Gove could be running a campaign to succeed Theresa May, who is widely expected by Tory MPS to step down or be ousted in 2019.

It has been reported Mr Cameron has started to rebuild his relationship with his fellow Old Etonian Boris Johnson, who also took a prominent role in arguing for Brexit.

He has invited the former Foreign Secretary to play tennis and the two men dined shortly before Mrs May’s fateful Chequers summit to hammer out the government’s Brexit negotiating strategy.