Michael Gove, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, is set to become one of the major winners of tomorrow’s government reshuffle. He appears certain to retain control of the Cabinet Office, and to take on a trio of roles. He is in line to oversee COP26, the UN climate change summit being hosted by the UK in November, and efforts to ensure that conference is part of a government programme to reach “net-zero” overall. He is due to have oversight of Britain’s future trading relationships with Europe and the rest of the world. And he is highly likely to take charge of improving the efficiency and delivery of public services – a key plank of Dominic Cummings’ plan to fix the machinery of government.
Each role is arguably worthy of a cabinet post in itself. Combined, the roles would make Gove one of the most powerful members of Boris Johnson’s government. Only Sajid Javid, through his control of the Treasury, is on course to rival Gove for pre-eminence in cabinet. Dominic Raab may officially remain First Secretary of State, and continue to be Johnson’s theoretical deputy, but the Foreign Secretary appears to rival Gove in name only.
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