MICHAEL Gove is set for a seat in the House of Lords as ex-PM Rishi Sunak dishes out peerages to his closest allies.
The Tory veteran – who held six cabinet posts under four prime ministers – is among seven names expected to feature in Mr Sunak’s resignation honours, according to sources familiar with the list.
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Mr Gove, now editor of The Spectator magazine, remains hugely influential in Tory circles despite stepping down as an MP.
Also tipped for peerages are ex-chief whip Simon Hart, former Scottish secretary Alister Jack, and the Tories’ ex-party boss Stephen Massey.
It’s long been tradition for outgoing PMs to hand out gongs and peerages to donors, staff and loyal allies.
But Mr Gove’s expected peerage marks the latest twist in a career defined by comebacks and controversy within the Conservative Party.
He famously derailed Boris Johnson’s first leadership bid in 2016, announcing his own candidacy just hours after backing him.
Their relationship never fully recovered – with Mr Johnson sacking him in a fit of defiance during his final hours in No10 in 2022.
Close ally to Mr Johnson Nadine Dorries later accused Mr Gove of orchestrating the ex-PM’s downfall.
Despite the fallout, he was swiftly brought back into Cabinet by Mr Sunak, once again taking on the Levelling Up brief.
Mr Gove went on to back Kemi Badenoch in the Tory leadership contest and has remained a major behind-the-scenes player.
His peerage now opens the door to a possible return to ministerial office from the red benches.
