Is The Spectator trying to rehabilitate Enoch Powell, according to Michael Gove?

Michael Gove said The Spectator is not trying to rehabilitate Enoch Powell, but readers are interested in political thinkers of the 1960s to 1980s and airbrushing figures from history is a mistake. The magazine ran a reflection by Powell's biographer Simon Heffer which was not uncritical. Gove said Powell was disingenuous, knowing the speech that got him sacked from the shadow cabinet would be incendiary while feigning surprise.

• Gove also cited Tom McTague's book on Britain and Europe, Between the Waves, as taking Powell seriously while criticising him.
• Asked about Jason Arday's death, Gove said the media should not feel responsible, while Campbell called the coverage disproportionate.

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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