Gove out!

The Department for ‘Levelling Up’, Housing and Communities has lost its Secretary of State this evening. Unlike other ministers who have left the government in the past few days, Gove was sacked. At the time of writing (10 p.m. on 6 July), the PM’s reason for this sacking has not yet been made public.

A new Secretary of State will no doubt be appointed in the next day or two (provided that the besieged Chief Clown can find one). It is too early to say what effect this will have on the so-called Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill. This may well depend on the fate of Bojo the Clown. Tonight he is fighting like mad to face down his critics, but if he does not resign in the next day or two, his hash may be settled by Tory MPs next week.

The new Secretary of State (if/when appointed), like other newly appointed ministers, may have a very short term in office.

Watch this space!

UPDATE (7.7.22): News came through just ater 9 a.m. this morning that Johnson has bowed to the inevitable and will step down as Chief Clown and leave the circus. However, there is coninuing controversy this morning over whether he should continue as Prime Minister pending the election of his successor as leader of the Tory Party, or whether he should be replaced now by a caretaker PM. This leaves considerable uncertainty over the refilling of nearly 60 ministerial posts that have been vacated in the past 48 hours. Even greater uncertainty centres on the position of Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communiites, bearing mind that Gove was the only cabinet member who has been sacked, as opposed to resigning.

© MARTIN H GOODALL