Michael Gove considering his future after turning down PM's offer to become Brexit Secretary
2 min read
Michael Gove is on the brink of becoming the latest Cabinet minister to quit after turning down the offer of becoming Brexit Secretary.
Theresa May asked him to replace Dominic Raab, who resigned yesterday in protest at the Brexit deal she has struck with Brussels.
But Leave-backing Mr Gove rejected the offer after the Prime Minister told him there was no chance of trying the renegotiate the agreement, which has angered many Brexiteers.
According to The Times, the Environment Secretary delivered the news to Mrs May just moments before she delivered a Downing Street press conference urging MPs to support her.
The drama came at the end of a day which had already seen three other ministers, plus a string of parliamentary aides, quit their posts, and heard fresh calls for Mrs May to step aside.
It is understood that Mr Gove planned to sleep on whether or not to resign from the Cabinet, and will announce his decision either today or over the weekend.
If he were to quit, it would be another hammer-blow to the Prime Minister's authority and her chances of staying in the job.
Meanwhile, the future of International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt and Transport Secretary Chris Grayling - two more Cabinet Brexiteers - are also in the balance.
Ms Mordaunt met with Mrs May last night to once again press the case for MPs to have a free vote on the Brexit deal.
Asked whether she had been successful, a friend told PoliticsHome: "I wouldn't rule out anything in politics."
PoliticsHome Newsletters
PoliticsHome provides the most comprehensive coverage of UK politics anywhere on the web, offering high quality original reporting and analysis: Subscribe
