Does Michael Gove accept blame for the political chaos after the 2016 Brexit vote?

Yes, in part. Michael Gove told Alastair Campbell that he and Boris Johnson blew themselves up right after the referendum win, and that he deserves the lion's share of blame for the leadership contest that followed. He also said Theresa May lacked a proper Brexit plan and took decisions that set the negotiations on the wrong path. He added that the Conservatives wrongly came to judge Brexit by the number of trade deals signed.

• Gove said Boris Johnson, for all his faults, was a true believer in Leave, even if ambition also played a part.
• Campbell noted Britain has had seven prime ministers in the years since the vote.

Source: our own transcription of the episode. The full conversation is on The Rest Is Politics (2026-10-07). Read the whole episode summary →

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