Clegg: ‘Gove fed Sun Queen Brexit story’
MICHAEL GOVE leaked the Queen’s private comments on the European Union to the press to boost the Brexit campaign, Nick Clegg has claimed.
In a BBC documentary, the former deputy prime minister names Mr Gove as the source behind a Sun story which suggested the Queen supported leaving the EU.
The story triggered a heated row at the time with Buckingham Palace, which formally complained to the press watchdog.
Mr Clegg says: “Michael Gove obviously communicated it, well I know he did; he gave this to The Sun.”
He denies the Queen backed Brexit during the conversations and adds: “I think it was very, very disrespectful of Michael Gove to have done that.”
Mr Gove is also asked about the incident during the programme and reiterates that he doesn’t know “how
The Sun got all its information”. Elsewhere in the documentary, Craig Oliver, Mr Cameron’s chief spin doctor, reveals that Boris Johnson only told them he would be backing Brexit 15 minutes before the announcement.
He also criticises pollsters over the defeat for failing to forecast that millions of people who had never voted before would turn out in the referendum, with many supporting Brexit.
Senior Labour figures also criticise Jeremy Corbyn’s “lukewarm” campaigning to stay in the EU.
Lord Mandelson says: “It was very difficult to know what Jeremy Corbyn’s motives were. Did he just sort of get out of bed the wrong side every day and not feel [in a] very sort of friendly, happy mood and want to help us?”
Brexit: Battle for Britain is due to be shown at 9pm on BBC Two tomorrow.