...and Gove dances off to sort out housing
MICHAEL Gove has been tasked with delivering on Boris Johnson’s flagship ‘levelling up’ policy as well as solving the housing crisis after being made Communities Secretary.
The long-standing minister was moved sideways from his role at the Cabinet Office, but will retain his existing responsibilities for the Union and elections.
The bulging in-tray will be seen as a confidence vote in Mr Gove, 54, by the PM as he entrusts him to deliver on key tenets of the Conservative manifesto.
He replaces Robert Jenrick, 39, who was sacked after a string of controversies, including a ‘cash for favours’ row last year involving former newspaper tycoon Richard Desmond’s plan to build 1,500 homes on the site of the old Westferry print works in east London.
Mr Gove has a reputation in Westminster as a minister who can get a tough job done, having previously led the education and justice departments.
He was tasked with preparing for a nodeal Brexit in the Cabinet Office when Mr Johnson became PM, despite running against him in the Tory leadership race.
The Prime Minister has championed sweeping planning reforms which have sparked a ferocious backlash among backbenchers. And he has described his ‘levelling up’ agenda – which he hopes will spread opportunity across the country – as his ‘great project’.
Mr Gove, who grew up in Aberdeen – and was last month pictured dancing enthusiastically at a nightclub in the city – will continue his work defending the Union, chiefly against calls for a second Scottish referendum.
‘He can get a tough job done’