Automatic payment

He also accepted he should have either paused before offering his support or, having decided to do so, stood by him.

Oh … and he’s “very happy” the former London mayor – a “very talented figure” – is Foreign Secretary.

Also notable was Gove’s backtracking on his opposition to opening more grammar schools, one of Theresa May’s most controversial policies thus far, but also among the closest to her heart.

As well as calling it the right approach, he said he opposed the move while in Government because his coalition partners would have fought it.

It seems the former education secretary might be engaging in a little sucking up, although the comments may inadvertently boost the Lib Dems in the Richmond Park by-election campaign, triggered by Zac Goldsmith’s resignation.

Taken together, the signs clearly suggest Gove intends on sticking around.

How high he can climb remains to be seen, but he’s certainly already a few rungs further up the ladder out of his “very deep pit”.

He took a hit, but his ambition hasn’t gone anywhere. Expect to see a lot more of him. SCOTTISH Greens say all relevant benefits should be paid automatically to anyone who applies for support.

As it stands, people make applications for each individual benefit they think they might be entitled to.

Alison Johnstone MSP, social security spokesperson, said: “By making the new Scottish system a more user-friendly one, we can ensure people get what they’re entitled to.”

The Scottish Government is consulting on legislation on changes to social security.