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David Cameron preparing for Michael Gove to support Brexit David Cameron preparing for Michael Gove to support Brexit
(35 minutes later)
David Cameron is now braced for an announcement by Michael Gove, one of his closest cabinet allies, that he will abandon the prime minister and join the campaign to take Britain out of the EU.David Cameron is now braced for an announcement by Michael Gove, one of his closest cabinet allies, that he will abandon the prime minister and join the campaign to take Britain out of the EU.
As negotiations at a summit in Brussels on his EU reform plans dragged into a second night, there were growing fears that the prime minister faces a larger than expected cabinet backlash against the deal.As negotiations at a summit in Brussels on his EU reform plans dragged into a second night, there were growing fears that the prime minister faces a larger than expected cabinet backlash against the deal.
Related: Cameron: 'no cabinet meeting tonight' as EU talks continue – liveRelated: Cameron: 'no cabinet meeting tonight' as EU talks continue – live
A move by Gove, the justice secretary, to support a Brexit will electrify the Leave side in the EU referendum and put pressure on Boris Johnson to follow his lead. The London mayor has caused some irritation in Downing Street by making a series of demands – firstly for two referendums, and then a declaration of the sovereignty of parliament – while claiming he cannot make up his mind. A move by Gove, the justice secretary, to support a Brexit will electrify the out campaign in the EU referendum and put pressure on Boris Johnson to follow his lead. The London mayor has caused some irritation in Downing Street by making a series of demands – firstly for two referendums, and then a declaration of the sovereignty of parliament – while claiming he cannot make up his mind.
Gove has made clear in semi-private that he has been torn between the profound belief that Britain should break free from the shackles of EU membership and loyalty to the prime minister and the chancellor. The justice secretary knows that joining the Leave campaign could terminate the political careers of his two great friends and boost the leadership chances of Theresa May and Boris Johnson. Gove has made clear in semi-private that he has been torn between the profound belief that Britain should break free from the shackles of EU membership and loyalty to the prime minister and the chancellor. The justice secretary knows that joining the out campaign could terminate the political careers of his two great friends and boost the leadership chances of Theresa May and Johnson.
The No 10 calculations about the movement of senior cabinet figures came as European leaders were due to reconvene their formal proceedings at 8.00pm Brussels time after a gap of nearly 20 hours. Donald Tusk, the European council president who had held a series of bilateral meetings with EU leaders through Thursday night and throughout the day on Friday, was due to table a proposed agreement. No 10’s calculations about the movement of senior cabinet figures came as European leaders were due to reconvene their formal proceedings at 8.00pm Brussels time after a gap of nearly 20 hours. Donald Tusk, the European council president who had held a series of bilateral meetings with EU leaders through Thursday night and throughout the day on Friday, was due to table a proposed agreement.
Related: Innies, outies, unclears: where ministers stand on EU referendumRelated: Innies, outies, unclears: where ministers stand on EU referendum
A move by Gove to support a British exit will not surprise Downing Street which has been fully briefed on his indecision in recent weeks. No 10 had been confident at the turn of the year that the justice secretary would support the prime minister. But his record for Euroscepticism is well known. A move by Gove to support a British exit will not surprise Downing Street, which has been fully briefed on his indecision in recent weeks. No 10 had been confident at the turn of the year that the justice secretary would support the prime minister. But his record for Euroscepticism is well known.
Downing Street will be hoping that Gove will abide by the terms of a letter the prime minister sent to cabinet ministers when he agreed to lift the rules on cabinet collective responsibility once an EU deal has been agreed. It said that ministers who have a history of Euroscepticism would be free to campaign for a Leave vote but they would be expected to do so amiably. No 10 will be hoping that Gove, known as the politest man in British politics, will live up to his reputation. Downing Street will be hoping that Gove will abide by the terms of a letter the prime minister sent to cabinet ministers when he agreed to lift the rules on cabinet collective responsibility once an EU deal has been agreed. It said that ministers who have a history of Euroscepticism would be free to campaign for a vote to leave but they would be expected to do so amiably. No 10 will be hoping that Gove, known as the politest man in British politics, will live up to his reputation.