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EU referendum: our writers on Michael Gove's TV questioning EU referendum: our writers on Michael Gove's TV questioning
(35 minutes later)
Deborah Orr: ‘On his rare forays into detail, he was almost comically nonsensical’Deborah Orr: ‘On his rare forays into detail, he was almost comically nonsensical’
I don’t remember Michael Gove predicting the global economic crash in 2008. But his opening salvo in this evening’s Sky News debate was that, apparently, only those who did predict it can ever be right about anything. Which can only mean that Gove isn’t right about Britain leaving the EU.I don’t remember Michael Gove predicting the global economic crash in 2008. But his opening salvo in this evening’s Sky News debate was that, apparently, only those who did predict it can ever be right about anything. Which can only mean that Gove isn’t right about Britain leaving the EU.
However, says Gove, if you thought Britain was right not to join the Euro, then you’re more likely to be right about how to vote in the referendum. So, if you can’t make up your mind, do what Gordon Brown tells you to. Gove says.However, says Gove, if you thought Britain was right not to join the Euro, then you’re more likely to be right about how to vote in the referendum. So, if you can’t make up your mind, do what Gordon Brown tells you to. Gove says.
Except he doesn’t. Instead Gove says that all experts are corrupt, which is why they all think Britain should stay in the EU, even though the EU is responsible for every bad thing that has happened in the UK since we joined. I particularly liked: “Leaving the EU will help young people to get on the housing ladder.” Try getting on the property ladder in, say, Berlin, chum. Easy-peasy.Except he doesn’t. Instead Gove says that all experts are corrupt, which is why they all think Britain should stay in the EU, even though the EU is responsible for every bad thing that has happened in the UK since we joined. I particularly liked: “Leaving the EU will help young people to get on the housing ladder.” Try getting on the property ladder in, say, Berlin, chum. Easy-peasy.
Gove says he is “on the side of the people” who are all “so wonderful”. Every one of us. Not the fish. Gove reckons the EU ruined his dad’s Aberdeen fishing business, because it cottoned on to the idea that fish aren’t an inexhaustible resource, and did something about it. Their bad. Gove isn’t even a Little Englander. He’s a Little My Dadder. Gove says he is “on the side of the people” who are all “so wonderful”. Every one of us. Not the fish. Gove reckons the EU ruined his dad’s Aberdeen fishing business, because it cottoned on to the idea that fish aren’t an inexhaustible resource and did something about it. Their bad. Gove isn’t even a Little Englander. He’s a Little My Dadder.
As for his answer to the chap who asked about Port Talbot, I don’t know how Gove can live with himself. Outside the EU, he said, Britain could protect its industries better. His own party vetoed the EU’s proposals for protecting Europe’s steel industry from cheap Chinese steel by doing what the Yanks do, and slapping import tariffs on it.As for his answer to the chap who asked about Port Talbot, I don’t know how Gove can live with himself. Outside the EU, he said, Britain could protect its industries better. His own party vetoed the EU’s proposals for protecting Europe’s steel industry from cheap Chinese steel by doing what the Yanks do, and slapping import tariffs on it.
When Gove says he’s on the side of the people, he means that he’s willing to ride a wave of populism, when it suits him. There’s no doubt that audiences on both nights of these mildly ill-tempered Sky EU grillings have responded enthusiastically to the appeal to nationalism. It’s nice, being told that your tribe is the best tribe.When Gove says he’s on the side of the people, he means that he’s willing to ride a wave of populism, when it suits him. There’s no doubt that audiences on both nights of these mildly ill-tempered Sky EU grillings have responded enthusiastically to the appeal to nationalism. It’s nice, being told that your tribe is the best tribe.
But on his rare forays into detail, Gove was almost comically nonsensical, blithely and airily dismissive of any negative impact on the wonderful people he loves so much.But on his rare forays into detail, Gove was almost comically nonsensical, blithely and airily dismissive of any negative impact on the wonderful people he loves so much.
Matthew d’Ancona: ‘He challenged the audience to distinguish the cause from its champions’Matthew d’Ancona: ‘He challenged the audience to distinguish the cause from its champions’
“Count me out,” declared Michael Gove when asked on last night’s Sky News referendum special about his own prospects as the next Conservative leader. No, the lord chancellor was not to be drawn into the speculation raging in Westminster about his own future. The idea that Gove should become deputy prime minister as part of a reconciliation strategy after the vote has gathered pace in recent days. But the man himself knew better than to get entangled in such gossip.“Count me out,” declared Michael Gove when asked on last night’s Sky News referendum special about his own prospects as the next Conservative leader. No, the lord chancellor was not to be drawn into the speculation raging in Westminster about his own future. The idea that Gove should become deputy prime minister as part of a reconciliation strategy after the vote has gathered pace in recent days. But the man himself knew better than to get entangled in such gossip.
There was a time when Gove – the most-accomplished debater in the government – would have been prepping Cameron for the PM’s Q&A on Thursday rather than appearing in the hot seat himself as spokesman for leave and his boss’s public opponent. In the first half, Sky’s Faisal Islam gave the lord chancellor as hard a time as he had meted out to the PM, labelling Gove an “Oxbridge Trump” and pressing the Brexit camp on its insistence that the party pays the EU £350m a week – a figure which does not take account of the rebate or EU schemes from which Britain benefits. There was a time when Gove – the most-accomplished debater in the government – would have been prepping Cameron for the PM’s Q&A on Thursday rather than appearing in the hot seat himself as spokesman for leave and his boss’s public opponent. In the first half, Sky’s Faisal Islam gave the lord chancellor as hard a time as he had meted out to the PM, labelling Gove an “Oxbridge Trump” and pressing the Brexit camp on its insistence that the party pays the EU £350m a week – a figure that does not take account of the rebate or EU schemes from which Britain benefits.
Unflummoxed, Gove accused the remain camp of being passengers on the “gravy train” – as close as he is likely to get to accusing his boss of corruption. He also gave the punters what they wanted to hear by contrasting the “elites” and the “people”. A Brexiter must sound like a tribune, not an aspiring consul. So, under fire in the second part, a Q&A session, he challenged the audience to distinguish the cause from its champions. If people didn’t trust him or Boris Johnson, they should trust the idea – which, in turn, meant trusting themselves and daring to seize control over their lives and families’ future.Unflummoxed, Gove accused the remain camp of being passengers on the “gravy train” – as close as he is likely to get to accusing his boss of corruption. He also gave the punters what they wanted to hear by contrasting the “elites” and the “people”. A Brexiter must sound like a tribune, not an aspiring consul. So, under fire in the second part, a Q&A session, he challenged the audience to distinguish the cause from its champions. If people didn’t trust him or Boris Johnson, they should trust the idea – which, in turn, meant trusting themselves and daring to seize control over their lives and families’ future.
For the leave campaign, there is clear danger in the idea of its leaders as General Melchett in Blackadder Goes Forth, making plans far away from danger while others pay the price.For the leave campaign, there is clear danger in the idea of its leaders as General Melchett in Blackadder Goes Forth, making plans far away from danger while others pay the price.
As I have written before, the Brexiters are starting to look like a government within a government. Most striking to me was how little Gove had to say about Cameron’s brilliance – a subject that usually occupies a good third of his public performances. Not last night. This was a politician who knows that an all-important line was crossed long ago.As I have written before, the Brexiters are starting to look like a government within a government. Most striking to me was how little Gove had to say about Cameron’s brilliance – a subject that usually occupies a good third of his public performances. Not last night. This was a politician who knows that an all-important line was crossed long ago.
Simon Jenkins: ‘He was there to say again and again: “take back control”’ Simon Jenkins: ‘He was there to say again and again “take back control”’
For what it is worth, Michael Gove won. He went to Sky on Friday with two simple tasks; to keep his cool and to tell his audience, over and over again, ‘Just take back control’. The debate is about sovereignty. He said it.For what it is worth, Michael Gove won. He went to Sky on Friday with two simple tasks; to keep his cool and to tell his audience, over and over again, ‘Just take back control’. The debate is about sovereignty. He said it.
Gove has the manner of a kindly family lawyer; a bit unctuous and given to rounded platitudes. His interviewer, Faisal Islam, helped by being over-eager to give him a tough time. Gove answers questions with a kindly smile, as if keen to do the world a favour. Islam should have stuck to questions, and let us judge whether they were answered. It was not wise to charge Gove with being ‘like Donald Trump.’ It was, as Gove replied to applause, a Trump-like trick.Gove has the manner of a kindly family lawyer; a bit unctuous and given to rounded platitudes. His interviewer, Faisal Islam, helped by being over-eager to give him a tough time. Gove answers questions with a kindly smile, as if keen to do the world a favour. Islam should have stuck to questions, and let us judge whether they were answered. It was not wise to charge Gove with being ‘like Donald Trump.’ It was, as Gove replied to applause, a Trump-like trick.
Gove had predictable trouble with questions over the status of the £350m a week ‘sent to Brussels’, as well as with his lack of heavyweight supporters, his vagueness on jobs, house prices and NHS staff. But then his reply was always, ‘rather than be a difficult lodger in a house we didn’t design, let’s be a better neighbour.’Gove had predictable trouble with questions over the status of the £350m a week ‘sent to Brussels’, as well as with his lack of heavyweight supporters, his vagueness on jobs, house prices and NHS staff. But then his reply was always, ‘rather than be a difficult lodger in a house we didn’t design, let’s be a better neighbour.’
Brexit cannot answer specific questions, because its nature is a leap in the dark. What Gove did well was all he could do, present an optimistic, panglossian view of the future, one markedly absent from Cameron’s project fear the night before. His audience of steel workers, single mothers, small-business owners and expatriate retirees were told they would all apparently blossom and prosper outside the EU. All they had to do was ‘liberate the talents of the British people and make Britain great again.’ That, I fear, was more like Trump. Brexit cannot answer specific questions, because its nature is a leap in the dark. What Gove did well was all he could do, present an optimistic, Panglossian view of the future, one markedly absent from Cameron’s project fear the night before. His audience of steel workers, single mothers, small-business owners and expatriate retirees were told they would all apparently blossom and prosper outside the EU. All they had to do was ‘liberate the talents of the British people and make Britain great again.’ That, I fear, was more like Trump.