Former Tory cabinet minister Michael Gove’s peerage is another dark day for democracy. We may have thought Gove standing down from the Commons was a sign his days as a legislator were over.
His elevation to the House of Lords – a retirement home for political cronies and has-beens – unfortunately shows his political life goes on. History should not be kind on the Aberdeen-born Tory.
He was a divisive education secretary who made big mistakes in the job and antagonised teachers. His biggest blunder was throwing his weight behind Brexit – one of the biggest disasters to hit the UK in modern times.
Leaving the EU damaged us economically, hurt us internationally and resulted in a deal that was way worse than the status quo.
Gove’s support for Vote Leave was an important moment in the referendum campaign and he messed up. Pro-Brexit campaigners in their quieter moments admit the project they backed has not been a success.
They know it created huge instability for Northern Ireland and did not produce the outcomes they wanted.
But it was dogmatists like Gove who pushed it through and he should be ashamed. He momentarily showed good judgment by derailing Boris Johnson’s first leadership bid but later U-turned and served in his government.
Such self-serving hypocrisy was typical of a politician who always put his own needs first. Gove’s peerage is further proof the Lords is a relic that needs to be radically reformed.
If you want to be a legislator, you should be elected. Let Gove stand for election again and see how well he does.
Heed warnings
We reported yesterday on fears over wildfires encroaching on our towns and cities.
And in the last 24 hours we have seen a blaze come uncomfortably close to Cumbernauld.
The fire service has been so concerned, it placed the whole of Scotland under an “extreme warning”, which is still in place today. Fire chiefs have issued fresh advice and they make it clear that “human behaviour” is a major concern.
The climate crisis got us here but it is vitally important those of us enjoying our beautiful open spaces do so responsibly.
Make the most of the sunny weather while we can but heed the warnings of our brave hard-working firefighters. Carelessness can cause untold damage. Don’t let it happen.