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Michael Gove apologises over row with Theresa May Michael Gove apologises over 'Trojan Horse' row with Theresa May
(about 7 hours 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 his row with Home Secretary Theresa May.
The two had clashed over ways to tackle extremism after reports of a hardline Muslim plot in some Birmingham schools. A report on the row - about claims of a hardline Muslim plot in some Birmingham schools - by Cabinet Secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood has been handed to the prime minister.
The prime minister vowed to "sort out" the row and asked Cabinet Secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood to investigate. A special adviser to Mrs May has also resigned over comments made to the Times.
Mr Gove will face questions from MPs over the alleged plot on Monday. Mr Gove will be quizzed by MPs over the alleged "Trojan Horse" plot on Monday.
He has also apologised to Home Office counter terror chief Charles Farr. Education watchdog Ofsted is inspecting 21 schools in Birmingham as a result of the allegations of a plot. These reports are due to be published on Monday.
Education watchdog Ofsted is inspecting 21 schools in Birmingham as a result of the allegations of a plot. Mr Gove has also apologised to Home Office counter-terror chief Charles Farr after comments critical of him appeared in the Times attributed to a Department for Education source.
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. The row stemmed from differences of opinion over how best to deal with allegations that Muslim hardliners were trying to take over some Birmingham schools.
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 claims were detailed in a so-called "Trojan Horse" letter, which was made public in March. It has not been authenticated and could be a provocative hoax.
The anonymous letter alleged there was a group of conservative Muslims attempting to usurp school governing bodies.
It has led to investigations by Ofsted, Birmingham City Council, the Department for Education and the Education Funding Agency.
The dispute between the two ministers emerged last week when sources close to Mr Gove briefed the Times about his frustrations that the Home Office was being too soft on extremism.
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.
Downing Street said Ms Cunningham's resignation was related to further comments then made to The Times.
A Home Office source had told the newspaper: "Why is the DfE wanting to blame other people for information they had in 2010?
"Lord knows what more they have overlooked on the subject of the protection of kids in state schools? It scares me."
'Unauthorised comments'
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".
According to the ministerial code, ministers "should be able to express their views frankly in the expectation that they can argue freely in private while maintaining a united front when decisions have been reached."
It adds: "This in turn requires that the privacy of opinions expressed in cabinet and ministerial committees, including in correspondence, should be maintained."
AnalysisAnalysis
By Chris Mason, Political CorrespondentBy Chris Mason, Political Correspondent
Two of the government's most senior Conservative ministers are wounded.Two of the government's most senior Conservative ministers are wounded.
The home secretary has lost a close and trusted adviser in Fiona Cunningham; the education secretary will face the humiliation tomorrow of appearing before MPs in the Commons after publicly apologising not just to the prime minister, but also to a senior Home Office civil servant he'd criticised.The home secretary has lost a close and trusted adviser in Fiona Cunningham; the education secretary will face the humiliation tomorrow of appearing before MPs in the Commons after publicly apologising not just to the prime minister, but also to a senior Home Office civil servant he'd criticised.
The row between Michael Gove and Theresa May, which had burst into the open in The Times on the morning of the Queen's Speech, angered the prime minister.The row between Michael Gove and Theresa May, which had burst into the open in The Times on the morning of the Queen's Speech, angered the prime minister.
He will hope his swift response will draw a line under this damaging outbreak of indiscipline at the top of the government.He will hope his swift response will draw a line under this damaging outbreak of indiscipline at the top of the government.
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 prime minister subsequently vowed to "sort out" the row between the two by appointing cabinet secretary Sir Jeremy Haywood to look into it.
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. 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 now been given to Mr Cameron.
The spokesman said on Saturday: "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."
A Home Office source had told the newspaper: "Why is the DfE wanting to blame other people for information they had in 2010?
"Lord knows what more they have overlooked on the subject of the protection of kids in state schools? It scares me."
'Unauthorised comments'
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.
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".
According to the ministerial code, ministers "should be able to express their views frankly in the expectation that they can argue freely in private while maintaining a united front when decisions have been reached."
It adds: "This in turn requires that the privacy of opinions expressed in cabinet and ministerial committees, including in correspondence, should be maintained."
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.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.
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".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.