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Tories may have to ease austerity plans, says Michael Gove Tories may have to ease austerity plans, says Michael Gove
(35 minutes later)
The lack of a majority government means the Conservatives will probably have to ease austerity plans and boost spending on public services, the newly appointed environment secretary, Michael Gove, has said.The lack of a majority government means the Conservatives will probably have to ease austerity plans and boost spending on public services, the newly appointed environment secretary, Michael Gove, has said.
Gove, a surprise appointment to Theresa May’s new cabinet, also said the party would need to push ahead on Brexit with “the maximum possible consensus”, taking into account the views of remain voters. Gove, a surprise addition to Theresa May’s new cabinet, also said the party would need to push ahead on Brexit with “the maximum possible consensus”, taking into account the views of remain voters.
Discussions between May’s team and the Democratic Unionist party over what concessions the Northern Ireland party will seek in return for propping up a Conservative government are scheduled for later on Tuesday.Discussions between May’s team and the Democratic Unionist party over what concessions the Northern Ireland party will seek in return for propping up a Conservative government are scheduled for later on Tuesday.
The DUP leader, Arlene Foster, is expected to largely avoid sectarian issues, such as Orange parades, as conditions under which her MPs would provide “supply and confidence” to a minority government, and instead focus on budget-based matters.The DUP leader, Arlene Foster, is expected to largely avoid sectarian issues, such as Orange parades, as conditions under which her MPs would provide “supply and confidence” to a minority government, and instead focus on budget-based matters.
The DUP has opposed some austerity measures, including the bedroom tax, and mooted changes to some universal benefits for pensioners, such as the winter fuel allowance.The DUP has opposed some austerity measures, including the bedroom tax, and mooted changes to some universal benefits for pensioners, such as the winter fuel allowance.
Asked whether the Conservatives would need to give ground on this, Gove told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that some concessions were inevitable.Asked whether the Conservatives would need to give ground on this, Gove told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that some concessions were inevitable.
“We don’t have a majority, and one of the things that I do think that we need to do is to make sure that when we bring forward a programme it commands the broadest possible level of confidence,” he said.“We don’t have a majority, and one of the things that I do think that we need to do is to make sure that when we bring forward a programme it commands the broadest possible level of confidence,” he said.
“And we also need to reflect on what the election result told us about the way people want to see the economy managed in the future. I think there is an important balance to be struck, and we need to get on with the job of reducing the deficit so that we do not saddle the next generation with a burden of debt.”“And we also need to reflect on what the election result told us about the way people want to see the economy managed in the future. I think there is an important balance to be struck, and we need to get on with the job of reducing the deficit so that we do not saddle the next generation with a burden of debt.”
While May’s government would seek sustainable spending, “we also need to take account of legitimate public concerns about ensuring that we properly fund public services”, Gove said. While May’s government would seek sustainable spending, Gove said, “we also need to take account of legitimate public concerns about ensuring that we properly fund public services”.
Asked whether the Conservatives’ loss of a majority in last week’s election could soften Brexit plans, Gove said it was necessary to “proceed with the maximum possible consensus” and to take into account the views of people who voted for the UK to remain in the EU.Asked whether the Conservatives’ loss of a majority in last week’s election could soften Brexit plans, Gove said it was necessary to “proceed with the maximum possible consensus” and to take into account the views of people who voted for the UK to remain in the EU.
But asked what this might mean in practice, Gove declined to elaborate and refused to say whether he would support any cross-party commission on Brexit: “I don’t think that I should specify, and I don’t want to specify, the means by which we should involve everyone in a conversation.” Asked what this might mean in practice, Gove declined to elaborate and refused to say whether he would support any cross-party commission on Brexit: “I don’t think that I should specify, and I don’t want to specify, the means by which we should involve everyone in a conversation.”
Gove was sacked from the cabinet when May entered No 10. They pair had fallen out when they were the education and home secretaries respectively.Gove was sacked from the cabinet when May entered No 10. They pair had fallen out when they were the education and home secretaries respectively.
Gove himself, briefly and unsuccessfully, challenged for the succession to David Cameron, having suddenly withdrawn his support for Boris Johnson as he did so, scuppering the latter’s chances.Gove himself, briefly and unsuccessfully, challenged for the succession to David Cameron, having suddenly withdrawn his support for Boris Johnson as he did so, scuppering the latter’s chances.
Asked on BBC Breakfast about his current relations with Johnson, Gove said: “Boris and I spoke at the weekend and we had a great, friendly conversation. He was kind enough to welcome me back to the cabinet with a very generous tweet. And we were chatting yesterday in the margins of cabinet.” Asked on BBC Breakfast about his relations with Johnson, Gove said: “Boris and I spoke at the weekend and we had a great, friendly conversation. He was kind enough to welcome me back to the cabinet with a very generous tweet. And we were chatting yesterday in the margins of cabinet.”
In another media appearance, on ITV’s Good Morning Britain, Gove was asked about a letter written by Labour’s deputy leader, Tom Watson, to May, asking if the media boss Rupert Murdoch had sought Gove’s return to cabinet.In another media appearance, on ITV’s Good Morning Britain, Gove was asked about a letter written by Labour’s deputy leader, Tom Watson, to May, asking if the media boss Rupert Murdoch had sought Gove’s return to cabinet.
Gove, who writes a column for the Murdoch-owned Times, said: “Tom sees Rupert Murdoch’s hand behind everything. I think Tom believes that Rupert Murdoch picks the England cricket XI and the rugby first XV as well as decide who is on Britain’s Got Talent. This is par for the course for Tom when it comes to political mischief making.” Gove, who writes a column for the Murdoch-owned Times, said: “Tom sees Rupert Murdoch’s hand behind everything. I think Tom believes that Rupert Murdoch picks the England cricket XI and the rugby first XV as well as decide who is on Britain’s Got Talent. This is par for the course for Tom when it comes to political mischief-making.”