He’s no longer prime minister, but here’s Rishi Sunak’s final insult: making Michael Gove a Lord.
So this is how Rishi Sunak chooses to say goodbye—by handing honours to political failures, disgraced ministers, and Tory grandees who voters booted out at the last general election. Chief among them is Michael Gove, who’s reportedly in line for a life peerage.
Yes, that Michael Gove.
The one who spent years dismantling public services, sowing division, and reducing trust in government. The one voters in Surrey Heath finally grew tired of, rejecting him at the ballot box in 2024. But in Sunak’s warped view of merit, electoral rejection qualifies you for a seat in the House of Lords.
Buy Cruel Britannia in print here. Buy the Cruel Britannia ebook here. Or just click on the image!
Let’s be clear: Gove’s record is not just one of policy failure, but of scandal and offensive behaviour:
-
As Education Secretary, Gove’s reforms were so toxic that teachers nationwide went on strike. He pushed through academisation with little regard for evidence or outcomes, gutting local authority oversight.
-
As Levelling Up Secretary, he oversaw a failed agenda—where billions were promised to struggling areas, but very little delivered.
-
His time in the Cabinet Office and other roles was marred by cronyism scandals, not least his cosy relationship with Dominic Cummings and their use of private emails for government business.
But one incident stands out as especially disturbing.
The ‘joke’ that should have ended his career
In 2017, while appearing on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Gove thought it would be funny to compare being interviewed by John Humphrys to “going into Harvey Weinstein’s bedroom.” A rape joke. On national breakfast radio. At the height of the #MeToo movement.
Instead of ending his career, it barely made a ripple in the Conservative Party. But now? He’s being rewarded with a lifetime appointment to the Lords.
This is more than cronyism—it’s an insult to the public. A final act of contempt from a Prime Minister whose government collapsed under the weight of its own broken promises and internal rot. If Sunak wants to enshrine that legacy in the Lords, he’s picked the right people.
But let’s not pretend this is normal. Voters rejected Gove for a reason.
To override that decision by parachuting him into the second chamber is anti-democratic and morally bankrupt.
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The first collection, Strong Words and Hard Times,
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Rishi Sunak’s final insult: making Michael Gove a Lord
He’s no longer prime minister, but here’s Rishi Sunak’s final insult: making Michael Gove a Lord.
So this is how Rishi Sunak chooses to say goodbye—by handing honours to political failures, disgraced ministers, and Tory grandees who voters booted out at the last general election. Chief among them is Michael Gove, who’s reportedly in line for a life peerage.
Yes, that Michael Gove.
The one who spent years dismantling public services, sowing division, and reducing trust in government. The one voters in Surrey Heath finally grew tired of, rejecting him at the ballot box in 2024. But in Sunak’s warped view of merit, electoral rejection qualifies you for a seat in the House of Lords.
Buy Cruel Britannia in print here. Buy the Cruel Britannia ebook here. Or just click on the image!
Let’s be clear: Gove’s record is not just one of policy failure, but of scandal and offensive behaviour:
As Education Secretary, Gove’s reforms were so toxic that teachers nationwide went on strike. He pushed through academisation with little regard for evidence or outcomes, gutting local authority oversight.
As Levelling Up Secretary, he oversaw a failed agenda—where billions were promised to struggling areas, but very little delivered.
His time in the Cabinet Office and other roles was marred by cronyism scandals, not least his cosy relationship with Dominic Cummings and their use of private emails for government business.
But one incident stands out as especially disturbing.
The ‘joke’ that should have ended his career
In 2017, while appearing on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Gove thought it would be funny to compare being interviewed by John Humphrys to “going into Harvey Weinstein’s bedroom.” A rape joke. On national breakfast radio. At the height of the #MeToo movement.
Instead of ending his career, it barely made a ripple in the Conservative Party. But now? He’s being rewarded with a lifetime appointment to the Lords.
This is more than cronyism—it’s an insult to the public. A final act of contempt from a Prime Minister whose government collapsed under the weight of its own broken promises and internal rot. If Sunak wants to enshrine that legacy in the Lords, he’s picked the right people.
But let’s not pretend this is normal. Voters rejected Gove for a reason.
To override that decision by parachuting him into the second chamber is anti-democratic and morally bankrupt.
Vox Political needs your help!
If you want to support this site
(but don’t want to give your money to advertisers)
you can make a one-off donation here:
Be among the first to know what’s going on! Here are the ways to manage it:
1) Register with us by clicking on ‘Subscribe’ (bottom right of the home page). You can then receive notifications of every new article that is posted here.
2) Follow VP on Twitter @VoxPolitical
3) Like the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/VoxPolitical/
Join the Vox Political Facebook page.
4) You could even make Vox Political your homepage at http://voxpoliticalonline.com
5) Follow Vox Political writer Mike Sivier on BlueSky
6) Join the MeWe page at https://mewe.com/p-front/voxpolitical
7) Feel free to comment!
And do share with your family and friends – so they don’t miss out!
If you have appreciated this article, don’t forget to share it using the buttons at the bottom of this page. Politics is about everybody – so let’s try to get everybody involved!
Buy Vox Political books so we can continue
fighting for the facts.
Cruel Britannia is available
in either print or eBook format here:
The Livingstone Presumption is available
in either print or eBook format here:
Health Warning: Government! is now available
in either print or eBook format here:
The first collection, Strong Words and Hard Times,
is still available in either print or eBook format here:
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