Michael Gove

Transcript: Michael Gove’s barnstorming speech in no-confidence debate

In the no-confidence motion today, Michael Gove gave one of the best speeches of his parliamentary career, praising Labour moderates and launching an excoriating attack on Jeremy Corbyn. Here’s an edited transcript.

[This] has been a passionate debate characterised by many excellent speeches. Perhaps the bravest and the finest speech that came from the opposition benches was given by the member for Barrow-in-Furness. It takes courage – and he has it. Having been elected on a Labour mandate representing working class people to say that the leader of the party that you joined as a boy is not fit to be prime minister: he speaks for the country.

And that takes us to the speech from the Shadow Secretary of State [Tom Watson]. He spoke well. I felt he did not rise to the level of events. But one thing that was characteristic about his speech: he did not once mention in his speech the Leader of the Opposition. Or why he should be Prime Minister.

Now, I have a lot of time for the honourable member. We have several things in common. We both lost weight recently – I should say, him much more so. We’re both friends of Israel. Him much more so. And we both recognise that the Member for Islington North is about the worst possible person to lead the Labour Party.

As well as great speeches from the backbenches we also have some interesting speeches from the frontbenchers. We had a speech of over 20 minutes from my great friend the leader of the Scottish National Party in this place. But again in those 20 minutes he did not once mention the Common Fisheries Policy. I think everyone everyone in Scotland who recognises the potential to free ourselves from the Common Fisheries Policy which Brexit provides will note that in 20 minutes of precious parliamentary time the SNP didn’t mention them aren’t interested in them.

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