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Michael Gove apologises over row with Theresa May Michael Gove apologises over row with Theresa May
(35 minutes later)
Education Secretary Michael Gove has apologised to David Cameron over a row with Home Secretary Theresa May, whose special adviser Fiona Cunningham has resigned, Downing Street has said.Education Secretary Michael Gove has apologised to David Cameron over a row with Home Secretary Theresa May, whose special adviser Fiona Cunningham has resigned, Downing Street has said.
The two had clashed over ways to tackle extremism after reports of a hardline Muslim plot in some Birmingham schools.The two had clashed over ways to tackle extremism after reports of a hardline Muslim plot in some Birmingham schools.
Mr Cameron had vowed to "sort out" the row, and asked Cabinet Secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood to investigate.Mr Cameron had vowed to "sort out" the row, and asked Cabinet Secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood to investigate.
Mr Gove also apologised to Home Office counter terror chief Charles Farr.Mr Gove also apologised to Home Office counter terror chief Charles Farr.
The dispute emerged when those close to Mr Gove briefed the Times newspaper about his frustrations that the Home Office was being too soft on extremism.The dispute emerged when those close to Mr Gove briefed the Times newspaper about his frustrations that the Home Office was being too soft on extremism.
'Unauthorised comments''Unauthorised comments'
In response, the home secretary released a letter she had written to Mr Gove, accusing his department of failing to act when concerns about the Birmingham schools were brought to its attention in 2010.In response, the home secretary released a letter she had written to Mr Gove, accusing his department of failing to act when concerns about the Birmingham schools were brought to its attention in 2010.
Education watchdog Ofsted is inspecting 21 schools in the city as a result of the allegations of a plot.Education watchdog Ofsted is inspecting 21 schools in the city as a result of the allegations of a plot.
Quotes attributed to a Department for Education source in the Times had been critical of Mr Farr, the Home Office's director general for security and counter-terrorism.Quotes attributed to a Department for Education source in the Times had been critical of Mr Farr, the Home Office's director general for security and counter-terrorism.
BBC political correspondent Chris Mason said both ministers had taken a "big hit" as a result of the "incredible sequence of events" leading up to the Queen's Speech. Analysis
Mr Gove and Mrs May are two of the "biggest beasts" in the Conservative Party, and have been "publicly taking lumps out of each other", he said, adding that this would not be the end of the matter, with the education secretary due to take questions from MPs on Monday. By Chris Mason, Political Correspondent
Writing on Twitter, Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said the apology and resignation "miss the point", which she said was the "failure to investigate schools" and to work with communities on extremism matters. Hours before the Queen's Speech on Wednesday, when the government hoped to present a united front and set out its policies for the year ahead, two of the most senior Conservative cabinet ministers were engaged in a public row.
The prime minister was furious - and tonight both the Education Secretary Michael Gove and the Home Secretary Theresa May are politically wounded.
This is not yet the end of the matter: on Monday Mr Gove will face questions from MPs about the allegations that 21 schools in Birmingham may have been the subject of a takeover plot by hardline Muslims.
Writing on Twitter, shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said the apology and resignation "miss the point", which she said was the "failure to investigate schools" and to work with communities on extremism matters.
The shadow schools minister, Kevin Brennan, said Mr Gove and Mrs May had both breached the ministerial code as a result of the briefings to the Times.
He told the BBC: "Really, neither of them should remain in post".
Announcing the latest developments, a Downing Street spokesman said Sir Jeremy's report, into "unauthorised comments to the media about the government's approach to tackling extremism and the improper release of correspondence between ministers", had been given to Mr Cameron.Announcing the latest developments, a Downing Street spokesman said Sir Jeremy's report, into "unauthorised comments to the media about the government's approach to tackling extremism and the improper release of correspondence between ministers", had been given to Mr Cameron.
The spokesman said: "In acknowledgement of his role, today, the secretary of state for education has written separately to Charles Farr and the prime minister apologising for the original comments made to the Times newspaper.The spokesman said: "In acknowledgement of his role, today, the secretary of state for education has written separately to Charles Farr and the prime minister apologising for the original comments made to the Times newspaper.
"In addition, in relation to further comments to the Times, Fiona Cunningham has today resigned.""In addition, in relation to further comments to the Times, Fiona Cunningham has today resigned."
BBC political editor Nick Robinson tweeted that friends of Mrs May believed she had been made to pay a higher price in the row, adding Mr Gove's allies said making an apology ahead of an appearance before MPs was "not as easy for him as might seem".
Mr Cameron is "deeply concerned" by the extremism allegations and is taking a "specific interest" in making sure it is dealt with, the Downing Street spokesman added.Mr Cameron is "deeply concerned" by the extremism allegations and is taking a "specific interest" in making sure it is dealt with, the Downing Street spokesman added.
Mr Gove will set out the investigations into the alleged plot on Monday. BBC political editor Nick Robinson tweeted that friends of Mrs May believed she had been made to pay a higher price in the row, adding Mr Gove's allies said making an apology ahead of an appearance before MPs was "not as easy for him as might seem".
Writing for the Sunday Telegraph, columnist Matthew d'Ancona said the episode was "extraordinary for all sorts of reasons, not least because it involves blue-on-blue conflict" - a reference to the rarity of a public clash between ministers of the same party.