Brexit campaigner Michael Gove decided to leave which meant leaving

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Michael Gove, one of the best-known and most controversial figures in Conservative politics in recent times, has drawn the line at his almost 20-year career in Westminster.

“The opportunity to serve is fantastic,” Gove said in his resignation letter. “But there comes a time when you know it’s time to go – the new generation will lead.”

Gove, housing secretary in Rishi Sunak’s government, is involved the exodus of nearly 80 Conservative Party MPs Ahead of the July 4 election, many of them fear imminent defeat in the polls.

The 56-year-old Gove is confident he can win the Surrey Heath seat, where he was first elected in 2005, but even an 18,349 majority is considered possible by his main opponents, the Liberal Democrats. overcome.

In any event, the prospect of years of opposition is unlikely to appeal to a minister with a good record in office: many Conservative MPs call Gove one of the most successful reformers the party has had since the party took office in 2010.

He became Education Secretary in David Cameron’s first coalition government, promoting school reforms that he claimed in his resignation letter had helped lift Britain up international league tables.

Gove went on to become a liberal justice secretary, an energetic environment secretary and then champion for tenants’ rights – faced opposition from many Conservative Party parliamentarians who are the hosts.

But Gove is perhaps best remembered – and criticized in some quarters – for his role leading the Leave campaign in the 2016 Brexit referendum, a role that pitted him against old friend Cameron.

That same year, the moment earned him a reputation as a traitor, when he stabbed Boris Johnson in the back as his Vote Leave colleague campaigned to succeed Cameron as leader of the Conservative Party.

Gove’s decision to remove Johnson – he had been his campaign manager – and stand up to his rival entered the annals of Westminster infamy. “Everyone knows I made a mistake then,” Gove admitted five years later.

After that episode, Gove was often suspected of being behind many of the Conservative Party plots at Westminster, indeed Brexiteers were among those least trusting of his motives.

However, he is also loved by many colleagues – including MPs from other parties – with his classically polite style, attention to detail and witty performances on the delivery counter .

In his resignation letter, Gove said he was proud of his role in securing Brexit, saying it had allowed Britain to “take back control of its political destiny”.

He admitted that he “definitely made mistakes” but said he “always tried to be a voice for those who are overlooked and undervalued.”

“I tried to fight for greater social justice. My education reforms are designed to build a country where everyone – regardless of background – can become the author of their own life story,” he added.

Gove was born Graeme Andrew Logan in 1967 but was placed in intensive care shortly after birth. He was adopted by a couple from Aberdeen when he was 4 months old and continued to attend school. Robert Gordon College And Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford.

Before entering politics – and during the interim period of his ministerial career – Gove was a prominent journalist whose career included working for The Times. As a favorite of Rupert Murdoch, many expected him to return to frontline journalism after leaving politics.