We’ve read his lips: adamant utterances don’t get more emphatic than those the Tory leadership hopeful has put on record

Michael Gove’s announcement on Thursday that he intended to stand to be Tory leader, and the country’s next prime minister, was met with surprise and incredulity given his adamance that he was not interested in the role.

Here are five denials from the justice secretary, leave campaigner and former education secretary.

The time when he was ‘constitutionally incapable’

“No, I’m constitutionally incapable of it. There’s a special extra quality you need that is indefinable, and I know I don’t have it. There’s an equanimity, an impermeability and a courage that you need. There are some things in life you know it’s better not to try.” March 2012



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The time when he offered to ‘sign in blood’

“There are so many different ways in which he [a prime ministerial candidate] can deny it. And everyone tries to look at those denials and say was he leaving open the door, or was she trying to suggest she might wriggle out of it at some point… I don’t know what I can do in a way but if anyone wants me to sign a piece of parchment in my own blood saying I don’t want to be prime minister, then I’m perfectly happy to do that.” August 2012

The time when he ‘wasn’t equipped’

“There are lots of other folk, including in the cabinet, who could easily be prime minister. I’m not one of them. I could not be prime minister. I’m not equipped to be prime minister. I don’t want to be prime minister.” October 2012

The time when he didn’t have the stamina

“I don’t have what it takes... I have seen David close up on a variety of occasions: he just has an equanimity and a stamina, a sense of calm, good judgment... The pressure of the job is phenomenal and it takes a toll on you and your family and I don’t think I could do that.” March 2014

The time when there were better people to do it

Asked if he was interested in being prime minister, just last month, he said: “No, I’m not. There… I don’t want to do it and there are people who are far better equipped than me to do it.” May 2016

