WINNER IS COMING
Michael Gove launches his Prime Minister bid with Game Of Thrones dig at Boris Johnson
Mr Gove said: 'There’s a character that you think will be the hero then voomph - they are no more'
MICHAEL Gove launched his leadership bid last night - with a calculated Game of Thrones dig at rival Boris Johnson.
The Environment Secretary - who famously knifed his fellow Brexiteer in the last Tory leader election in 2016 - suggested Mr Johnson could stumble before he claimed the Tory crown.
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Speaking at the Hay Festival about the hit TV show, Mr Gove said: “It is a gripping drama that surprises you. There’s a character that you think will be the hero then voomph - they are no more.”
Mr Gove said he was aware of the “irony” of his comments.
He also begged activists to “trust” him again after he was accused of knifing Mr Johnson in the leadership contest three years ago.
His comments came as virtually every other leadership candidate lined up to savage Mr Johnson, the frontrunner in the race.
Meanwhile, The Sun can reveal Brexit Minister James Cleverly is also expected to launch his leadership bid this week.
In a highly personal interview for the BBC’s Political Thinking podcast, Mr Gove said he wanted to make it to No10 to make his adoptive parents “proud”.
He said: “I am amazed I find myself in the position I am now in. I was adopted, I spent first four months of my life in care.
“My parents, in choosing to adopt me, were taking a risk. They gave me everything.
“In my life I want to prove to them the risk they took was the right one.”
He also took a swipe at Mr Johnson by saying the next PM must have an “eye for detail” – a common criticism of his rival.
He said: “You do need an eye for detail – the process of taking us out of the EU requires that. You also need conviction as well.”
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On Brexit, he refused to say if he would promise to Britain will leave the EU on Halloween – deal or no deal.
And he said he agreed with Theresa May that “compromise is not a dirty word”.
Making a big effort to woo Remainers, he said he was a party unifier.
While he tried to charm Brexiteers by talking up his role in the Vote Leave Campaign.
He said he will make the best leader because “the particular mix of experience I have means I can make a contribution”.
While he insisted he has “evolved as a politician” as he tried to play down his unpopularity with teachers and parents, dating back to his days as Education Secretary.
WANNABE PMS
Mr Gove became the eighth Tory MP to officially enter the race, as a record number of wannabe PMs battle it out for the Tory crown.
Several more MPs are still mulling over whether or not to join the fray.
Mr Gove said his distrust of the EU dates back to his childhood in Scotland.
His father’s small fish processing business collapsed as the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy ravaged the industry.
Meanwhile, the other contenders were also out in force laying out their big visions as they vie for the top job.
Dominic Raab vowed to get a better deal by being “resolute” with Europe – as he said taking no-deal off the table had been a massive mistake.
He told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show: “I would fight for a fairer deal in Brussels with negotiations to change the backstop arrangements, and if not I would be clear that we would leave on WTO terms in October.
“We need to go out and be absolutely resolute in the way we weren’t last time.”
He also vowed to take Britain out of the EU on Halloween – with or without a deal.
His rival, Esther McVey struck a harder line – saying she would go for a no-deal Brexit in October unless the EU begged Britain for more talks.
She told Sky’s Sophy Ridge on Sunday: “October 31 is the key date and we are coming out then, and if that means without a deal then that’s what it means.
“We won’t be asking for any more extensions. If Europe wants to come back to us, the door is open if they want a better deal.”
But in a bombshell move, Philip Hammond threatened to lead a Tory charge to topple the next Tory PM if they go for a no-deal.
Chancellor refused to rule out joining a no confidence vote against the next leader.
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And he warned that other rebels could join him as Parliament will refuse to allow a no-deal.
Meanwhile, leadership contender Rory Stewart threatened to lock warring Tory MPs up in a room over the summer holidays to thrash out a compromise deal.
The threat will bomb among the MPs he is trying to woo, who have moaned about being overworked and having some of their holidays scrapped already.
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Boris Johnson confirms he will run for the Conservative Party leadership after Theresa May stands down
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