“I was thinking about it all the way through, but I was also thinking about what is in the interests of the country, because to me the clear priority is to deliver on the referendum”.
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The victor of the contest is set to be announced on September 9.
European Union leaders have repeatedly warned, however, that if the United Kingdom would like to secure access to the single market, it needs to agree to the key principles of freedom of movement for goods, services, capital and people.
But by the time he spoke his bid had already been undermined by Gove, a close friend of Cameron’s despite differences with the prime minister over Europe, who had previously said he would back Johnson.
That left interior minister Theresa May who kept a relatively low-profile during the referendum campaign but was on the “Remain” side of the bitter argument as the frontrunner in a field of five candidates, one of whom will become premier in September. Gove also said he would “only trigger it after extensive preliminary talks” but European Union officials have said no such talks can be held until Article 50 is invoked.
Praising Ms May, he said: “I worked for her as a Parliamentary Private Secretary in the Home Office from 2012 to 2015”.
Gove’s comments are likely to annoy European Union leaders, who have put strong pressure on Britain to start talks soon on leaving the 28-nation bloc. I was so very reluctant because I know my limitations. “I don’t wear my heart on my sleeve, I just get on with the job in front of me and you can judge me by my record”, May said.
Calling for an “open contest”, she added: “Whether it’s a woman or a man it’s about the qualities of the people doing the job”. The victor of that contest automatically becomes Britain’s next prime minister – and the person responsible for negotiating the country’s historic yet tricky exit from the 28-nation EU.
He was widely expected to back former London Mayor and lead “Leave” campaigner Boris Johnson, who bowed out of the race after the former’s surprise bid.
Michael Gove said: “I have come, reluctantly, to the conclusion that Boris can not provide the leadership or build the team for the task ahead”.
I’m the candidate for leader who is changing our prisons and our justice system.
Mr Gove’s unexpected decision to announce his candidacy for the contest blew a hole in Mr Johnson’s own plans to become the next Prime Minister, publicly humiliating him and prompting him to announce that he would not be running at all.
Speaking during his first State of London debate, as reported by the Evening Standard, Mr Khan said: “One of the deals Boris Johnson managed to do with the Germans was to buy three water cannon”. Let’s make the most of the Brexit opportunities!
Gove joins the four other candidates confirmed for the upcoming leadership election, Theresa May, Stephen Crabb, Andrea Leadsom and Liam Fox are all in the race to succeed David Cameron.
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The list of five candidates will be whittled down to two in several votes by Conservative lawmakers, with the victor then being selected from the final pair by party members.
