Ex-Tory minister Michael Gove appointed editor of Tory journal The Spectator
Michael Gove has been appointed the editor of Tory-supporting magazine The Spectator three months after quitting as MP.
The controversial former Housing Secretary, who has served in a number of government roles, will become the boss on October 8. It will give him a major platform to decide what is published in the influential magazine – and at a time when the Tory leadership race is in full swing.
It comes after the “Tory Bible” was taken over by GB News co-owner Sir Paul Marshall, who outbid Rupert Murdoch to pay £100million for the magazine earlier this month. Sir Paul, who is a hedge fund manager and also the owner of Unherd magazine, was ranked the 17th most powerful right-wing figure in 2023 by The New Statesman.
Mr Gove stepped down from Parliament at the General Election, after saying it was time for a “new generation” to lead. Freddie Sayers, publisher of The Spectator and the chief executive of new owner OQS, said Mr Gove is “perfectly suited to the role”. The former Tory MP for Surrey Heath – who served in the governments of David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak – was a journalist before he became an MP.
He will take up the job after final approval from Acoba, the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments., which advises former ministers and senior civil servants on appointments they wish to take up on leaving government. The Spectator is one of the world’s oldest politics and current affairs magazines, established in 1828 in London’s Old Queen Street.
The position is currently held by Fraser Nelson, who will step down “after 15 incredibly successful years”, Mr Sayers said in a message posted on X. Mr Nelson will “continue to write for The Spectator and will become Associate Editor”, Mr Sayers said.
Former BBC journalist Andrew Neil quit as chairman of The Spectator after Sir Paul’s takeover, criticising the sale and warning the new owner not to interfere with the magazine’s editorial independence.
