Michael Gove

The Right Honourable Michael Gove MP
Gove speaking at the Big Society policy launch, March 2010
Secretary of State for Education
Incumbent
Assumed office 12 May 2010
Prime Minister	David Cameron
Preceded by	Ed Balls (Children, Schools and Families)
Shadow Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families
In office 2 July 2007 – 11 May 2010
Leader	David Cameron
Preceded by	David Willetts
Succeeded by	Ed Balls (Education)
Member of Parliament for Surrey Heath
Incumbent
Assumed office 5 May 2005
Preceded by	Nick Hawkins
Majority	17,289 (31.8%)
Personal details
Born	(1967-08-26) 26 August 1967 (age 44) Edinburgh, Scotland
Political party	Conservative
Spouse(s)	Sarah Vine
Children	2
Alma mater	Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford
Occupation	Politician
Profession	Journalist
Religion	Anglican

Michael Andrew Gove (born 26 August 1967) is a British politician, who currently serves as the Secretary of State for Education and as the Conservative Party Member of Parliament (MP) for the Surrey Heath constituency. He is also an author and former Times journalist who remains on friendly terms with proprietor Rupert Murdoch.^[1]

Born in Edinburgh, Gove was raised in Aberdeen and made an early career as a journalist. He was first elected to parliament in the 2005 general election, as the MP for the safe Conservative seat of Surrey Heath in South East England. He was first promoted to the shadow cabinet in 2007 under David Cameron, as the Shadow Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families.

After the formation of the coalition government in 2010, Gove was appointed the Secretary of State for Education.

Early life and career outside Parliament

Gove was born in Edinburgh. At four months old, he was adopted by a Labour-supporting family in Aberdeen, where he was brought up.^[2] His father ran a fish processing business; his mother was a lab assistant at the University of Aberdeen before working at the Aberdeen School for the Deaf.^[3]

He was initially state school educated in Aberdeen, later attending the independent Robert Gordon's College, to which he won a scholarship.^[2] From 1985 to 1988 he studied English at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford,^[4] where he served as President of the Oxford Union.

Gove was a trainee reporter at the Press and Journal in Aberdeen, where he spent several months on strike in a dispute over union recognition and representation.^[5] He joined The Times in 1996 as a leader writer and has been its comment editor, news editor, Saturday editor and assistant editor. He has also written a weekly column on politics and current affairs for The Times and contributed to the Times Literary Supplement, Prospect magazine and The Spectator. He has also written a sympathetic biography of Michael Portillo and a critical study of the Northern Ireland peace process, The Price of Peace, for which he won the Charles Douglas-Home Prize.^[4] Gove was instrumental in the launch of the new centre-right magazine Standpoint, and serves on its advisory board.^{[citation needed]}

He has worked for the BBC's Today programme, On The Record, Scottish Television and the Channel 4 monologue programme A Stab In The Dark, alongside David Baddiel and Tracey MacLeod, and was a regular panellist on BBC Radio 4's The Moral Maze and Newsnight Review on BBC Two.^[3]

Gove was a member of the winning team in Grampian Television's quiz show Top Club,^{[citation needed]} and played the school chaplain in the 1995 family comedy A Feast at Midnight.^[6]

Political career

Gove joined the Conservative Party at university and was secretary of Aberdeen South Young Conservatives.^{[citation needed]} He has helped to write speeches for Cabinet and Shadow Cabinet ministers, including Peter Lilley and Michael Howard.^{[citation needed]} When applying for a job at the Conservative Research Department he was told he was "insufficiently political" and "insufficiently Conservative", consequently he turned to journalism.^{[citation needed]}

Gove was previously chairman of Policy Exchange, a conservative think tank launched in 2002.^{[citation needed]}

Member of Parliament

Gove entered Parliament in the 2005 general election as Conservative member for the safe seat of Surrey Heath.^{[citation needed]}

On 2 July 2007, he was promoted to the Shadow Cabinet as Shadow Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families (a new department set up by the Prime Minister Gordon Brown) shadowing Ed Balls, a key supporter of Brown^{[citation needed]}. Prior to the 2010 general election, most of his questions in House of Commons debates concerned children, schools and families, education, local government, Council Tax, Foreign Affairs, and the environment.^[7]

In 2008, in an attempt to split the Labour Party, Gove suggested that senior Blairites who might become isolated should their party move to the left following a general election defeat, could be offered a role in a future Conservative government.^[8]

Gove is seen as part of an influential set of young up-and-coming Tories, sometimes referred to as the 'Notting Hill Set', which includes David Cameron, George Osborne, Edward Vaizey, Nicholas Boles and Rachel Whetstone.^{[citation needed]} They are perceived as modernisers on social issues, and humanitarian interventionists in foreign policy. When Cameron was elected leader in December 2005, he appointed Gove the housing spokesman shadowing the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.^{[citation needed]} Michael Portillo predicted that Gove will one day lead the Conservative party.^{[citation needed]}

Secretary of State for Education

Gove is the current Secretary of State for Education. Following his appointment in May 2010, he rebranded his department,^[9] announced plans to convert schools rated as 'outstanding' by Ofsted into academies,^[10] and cut the previous Government's school building programme.^[11] He was forced to apologise, however, when the list of terminated school building projects he had released was found to be inaccurate.^[12]

In July 2010, Gove said that Labour had failed in its attempt to break the link between social class and school achievement despite spending billions of pounds. Quoting research, he indicated that by the age of 6, children of low ability from affluent homes were still out-performing brighter children from poor backgrounds. In a Commons Education Select Committee he said that this separation of achievement grew larger throughout pupils' school careers, stating, "In effect, rich thick kids do better than poor clever children when they arrive at school [and] the situation as they go through gets worse,".^[13]

During the 2010 Conservative Party Conference, Gove announced that school curriculum would be restructured, and that study of authors such as Byron, Keats, Jane Austen, Dickens and Thomas Hardy would be reintroduced to English lessons as part of a plan to improve children’s grasp of English literature and language. Children who fail to write coherently and grammatically, and who are weak in spelling, would be penalised under new examinations. Historian Simon Schama would give advice to government to ensure that pupils learnt Britain’s "island story". Standards in mathematics and science would also be strengthened. He explained that this was needed because left-wing ideologues had undermined education. Theirs was the view, he thought, that schools "shouldn’t be doing anything so old-fashioned as passing on knowledge, requiring children to work hard, or immersing them in anything like dates in history or times tables in mathematics. These ideologues may have been inspired by generous ideals but the result of their approach has been countless children condemned to a prison house of ignorance."^[14]

In a November 2010 White paper, Gove declared reforms would include the compulsory study of foreign languages up to the age of 16, and a shake-up of league tables in which schools are ranked higher for the number of pupils taking GCSEs in five core subjects: English; mathematics; science; a language; and one of the humanities. He also announced that experts such as historian Simon Schama will be brought in to review the curriculum, and that targets are to be introduced for primary schools for the first time. Additionally, trainee teachers will spend more time in the classroom, there would be more assessment of teacher training applicants—including tests of character and emotional intelligence—and former troops will be offered sponsorship to retrain as teachers to improve discipline. Teachers are also expected to receive guidance on how to search pupils for more items, including mobile phones and pornography, and when they can use force.^[15]

In December 2010, in an article in the Daily Telegraph, he claimed that "Like Chairman Mao, we’ve embarked on a Long March to reform our education system", apparently unaware that Mao's cultural revolution closed China's education system for ten years and led to the deaths of many teachers.^{[16] [17][18]}

In February 2011 a Judicial Review deemed his decision to axe Building Schools for the Future (BSF) projects in six local authority areas was unlawful as he had failed to consult before imposing the cuts.^[19] The judge also said that in five of the cases, the failure was "so unfair as to amount to an abuse of power" and that "however pressing the economic problems, there was no overriding public interest which precluded consultation or justifies the lack of any consultation".^[19] The Government will have to reconsider but it said it had won the case on substantial issues.^[19]

In March 2011 Gove was criticised for not understanding the importance of school architecture and having previously misrepresented the cost.^[20] In February 2011, he gave "not-quite-true information to Parliament" by saying that one individual made £1m in one year when the true figure was £700k for 5 advisers at different times over a 4 year period.^[20] He told a Free Schools conference that 'no one in this room is here to make architects richer' and specifically mentioned architect Richard Rogers.^[21]

In April 2011 Gove criticised schools for not studying pre-20th century classics and blamed “England’s constricted and unreformed exam system” for failing to encourage children to read. Gove also blamed an “anti knowledge culture” for reducing achievement and said children benefited when expectations were set higher.^[22] In June 2011 his "ignorance of science" was criticised after he called for students to have "a rooting in the basic scientific principles" and by way of example assigned Lord Kelvin's laws of thermodynamics to Sir Isaac Newton.^[23]

In 2011 Gove planned to provide each school in the United Kingdom with a copy of the King James Bible, personally inscribed by him, to celebrate the 400th anniversary of its translation into English.^[24][25] The project ran into difficulty when the education secretary was required to find private funding to complete it.^[24][25] The cost of the project was reported as being £337,000.^[25] It was reported that the Bibles were to remain in overseas storage until private funding was found to support the books' distribution.^[24][25]

Expenses claims

Michael Gove claimed £7,000 for furnishing a London property before reportedly 'flipping' his designated second home to a house in his constituency, a property for which he claimed around £13,000 to cover stamp duty.^[26] Gove also claimed for a cot mattress, despite children's items being banned under the Commons rule. Gove said he would repay the claim for the cot mattress, but maintained that his other claims were "below the acceptable threshold costs for furniture" and that moving house was necessary "to effectively discharge my parliamentary duties".^[26] While he was moving between homes, on one occasion he stayed at the Pennyhill Park Hotel and Spa following a constituency engagement, charging the taxpayer more than £500 per night's stay.^[26]

Political views

Unionism

Michael Gove is a Scot who believes that Scotland should remain part of the United Kingdom because Scotland's strengths complement those of other parts of the UK.^[27]

Liberty

Gove has expressed views that the state should not generally interfere in domestic affairs. He purported to campaign for personal freedom in certain matters, opposing the introduction of ID cards under the Identity Cards Act 2006, and wrote that "Section 28 is a nonsense", a reference to an enactment that prevented local authorities from providing funding for the positive portrayal of homosexuality, indicating a willingness to permit the expansion of the role of the state.^[28] He shared a flat with Conservative Ivan Massow who later defected to Labour over Section 28 and Nicholas Boles, and said "The only sustainable ethical foundation for society is a belief in the innate worth and dignity of every individual."^[29]

Education

As Shadow Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, he advocated the introduction of a Swedish-style voucher system, whereby parents can choose where their child should be educated, with the state paying what they would have cost in a state-school. He has also advocated Swedish style "free schools", to be managed by parents and funded by the state.^[30]

Foreign policy

Considered by some to be a British neo-conservative,^[31] he called for early intervention against Saddam Hussein and stated in October 2004 of Tony Blair: "I can't hold it back any more; I love Tony!" He is a signatory of the Henry Jackson Society, which advocates an active approach to the spread of democracy, and an adviser to the Atlantic Bridge, which works to affirm the Transatlantic alliance.

He was a proponent of the view that the invasion of Iraq would bring peace and democracy both to Iraq and the wider Middle East. In December 2008 Gove wrote that declarations of either victory or defeat in Iraq in 2003 were premature, and with the benefit of hindsight "The liberation of Iraq has actually been that rarest of things – a proper British foreign policy success. Next year, while the world goes into recession, Iraq is likely to enjoy 10% GDP growth. Alone in the Arab Middle East, it is now a fully functioning democracy with a free press, properly contested elections and an independent judiciary ... Sunni and Shia contend for power in parliament, not in street battles. The ingenuity, idealism and intelligence of the Iraqi people can now find an outlet in a free society rather than being deployed, as they were for decades, simply to ensure survival in a fascist republic that stank of fear. "^[32] Michael Gove has described himself as "a proud Zionist", ^[33] and supports the United Jewish Israel Appeal's fundraising activities.^[34]

He has been accused of harbouring hostile attitude towards Islam and Muslims after his book Celsius 7/7,^[35] despite distinguishing between 'the great historical faith' of Islam which he claims has 'brought spiritual nourishment to millions', and Islamism, a 'totalitarian ideolog[y]' which turns to 'hellish violence and oppression' like the 20th century ideologies of National Socialism and Communism.^[36]

He has mourned the First World War as a great tragedy, in which not only did millions die, but the old, largely liberal, tolerant and materially progressive order perished.^[37]

Political philosophy

During the 2008 Conservative Party Conference, he argued that Edmund Burke (a philosopher who commented on organic society and the French Revolution) was the greatest conservative ever.

Asked about those who believe 'Marx was right all along', he argued that Marxists were guilty of ignoring the systematic abuses and poverty of centrally planned economies, and criticised Eric Hobsbawm, saying that "only when Hobsbawm weeps hot tears for a life spent serving an ideology of wickedness will he ever be worth listening to."^[38]

Haves and have yachts

In January 2012, Mr Gove's ideas for a new Royal Yacht costing £60m were made public.^[39] Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg called the idea “a case of the haves and the have yachts".^[40]

Personal life

Gove is married to Sarah Vine, a writer on The Times;^[41] they have a daughter and son.^[42] Having been raised in the Church of Scotland, he now worships in the Church of England, and regularly attends St Mary Abbots^[43] church, Kensington, London.

His wealth is estimated at £1 million.^[44][45] Gove is a Queens Park Rangers F.C supporter.^[46]

Bibliography

• Michael Portillo: The Future of the Right (1995) ISBN 1-85702-335-8
• The Price of Peace (2000) ISBN 1-903219-15-9
• A Blue Tomorrow – New Visions for Modern Conservatives (2001) (ed. with Edward Vaizey and Nicholas Boles) ISBN 1-84275-027-5
• Celsius 7/7 (2006) ISBN 0-297-85146-2

Notes

External links

• Michael Gove MP Official Website
• Profile at the Conservative Party
• Column archives in The Times
• Profile from The Economist
• Profile at Parliament of the United Kingdom
• Contributions in Parliament at Hansard 1803–2005
• Current session contributions in Parliament at Hansard
• Electoral history and profile at The Guardian
• Voting record at PublicWhip.org
• Record in Parliament at TheyWorkForYou.com
• Profile at Westminster Parliamentary Record
• Profile at BBC News Democracy Live
• Articles authored at Journalisted

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