Michael Gove

Michael Andrew Gove (born August 26, 1967, Edinburgh) is a British politician, journalist and author. He has been the Conservative MP for Surrey Heath since 2005.

Politics

Gove joined the Conservative Party at university and was Secretary of Aberdeen South Young Conservatives.

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He has helped write speeches for a variety of Cabinet and Shadow Cabinet ministers, including Peter Lilley and Michael Howard.

Related Topics:
Peter Lilley - Michael Howard

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He once applied for a job at the Conservative Research Department, but was told he was "insufficiently political" and "insufficiently Conservative", hence his turning to journalism.

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Gove was previously Chairman of Policy Exchange, a centre-right think tank launched in 2002. As Conservative candidate in the safe seat of Surrey Heath, he entered Parliament in the 2005 election. Before becoming a candidate, Gove had expressed the view that the state should not generally interfere in domestic affairs, campaigned for greater personal freedom and wrote that "Section 28 is a nonsense" http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,1055-730993,00.html. He had flatshared with Conservative Ivan Massow who later defected to Labour over Section 28.

Related Topics:
Policy Exchange - 2002 - Parliament - Ivan Massow - Section 28

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He takes a pro-Israel line and has criticised anti-Americanism, anti-Semitism and several United Nations peace processes. A self-confessed neo-conservative, he called for early intervention against Saddam Hussein http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,1055-396780,00.html. Surprisingly, he stated in October 2004 of Tony Blair, "I can't hold it back any more; I love Tony!" He is also a Signatory of the Henry Jackson Society.

Related Topics:
Israel - United Nations - Neo-conservative - Saddam Hussein - 2004 - Tony Blair - Henry Jackson Society

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Gove is seen as part of an influential set of young up-and-coming Tories, sometimes disparagingly referred to as the 'Notting Hill set', including David Cameron, George Osborne, Edward Vaizey, Nicholas Boles and Rachel Whetstone. They are seen as modernisers, but also close to Michael Howard. Michael Portillo has predicted that Gove will be Leader of the Conservative Party, despite the fact that he has only very recently won a seat at Westminster.

Related Topics:
Notting Hill - David Cameron - George Osborne - Edward Vaizey - Nicholas Boles - Rachel Whetstone - Michael Howard - Westminster

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