However, one MP has dismissed the idea, saying he did not take the claims seriously “in this instance”. Mr Gove famously torpedoed Mr Johnson’s leadership ambitions in 2016. And he apparently set tongues wagging after admitting he would back Theresa May’s withdrawal agreement once again, if it was to come back to the House of Commons.
Some are even concerned he may be paving the way to step into the breach to pick up the pieces after Boris Johnson leaves Number 10, The Daily Telegraph has suggested.
Mr Gove appeared before the Commons Exiting the European Union Select Committee yesterday.
And he described Mrs May’s deal – which was rejected three times by the House of Commons – as a “compromise”.
On Wednesday an amendment tabled by Labour MP Stephen Kinnock which would see the withdrawal agreement put before the House once more was passed by default after the government opted not to provide tellers for the No side.
Tory MP Stephen Crabb, who sits on the committee, subsequently asked Mr Gove: “If somehow the deal that the previous prime minister negotiated with the EU came back to the House of Commons, would you vote for it?”
Mr Gove said: “Yes” adding: “I voted three times for the deal and it was a compromise.”
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A Downing Street spokesman told the Telegraph: “Our focus is on talking to the EU about ways to resolve the issues we have with the backstop.”
The paper reports concerns that Mr Gove harboured ambitions to replace Mr Johnson, with Brexiteers supposed mindful of his decision to withdraw support for Mr Johnson and declare himself a leadership candidate three years ago.
Mr Cummings, who was the campaign director of Vote Leave prior to the 2016 referendum, has a long association with Mr Gove, having worked as his chief of staff at the Department for Education between 2007 and 2014.
One MP told the Telegraph: “There is a theory that the real plan is to crash Boris and create chaos, only for Gove to emerge as the elder statesman ready to take over.”
However, another Westminster insider told Express.co.uk: “I don’t put any weight on rumours of a Gove Cummings plot. At least, not this one.”
Mr Cummings has courted controversy since being appointed by Mr Johnson, firing Sonia Khan, former special adviser to Chancellor Sajid Javid, last week and asking a policeman to escort her from Downing Street.
A source who has met him on a number of occasions told Express.co.uk: The source told Express.co.uk: “He is an absolute zealot on government reform, has long loathed the mandarin classes and sees them as the bed blockers of national reform and renewal.
“His language on it is visceral to the point of murderous.
“He’s had his eye on this for years and predicted their treacle swamp resistance.
“He’ll go through the Civil Service like a dose of salts.”
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