When Michael Gove walked into his office in the Ministry of Justice on Thursday morning, he knew it would probably be for the last time.

Hours before, Theresa May had astonished Westminster by making Boris Johnson her Foreign Secretary.

In a political world where almost everyone is someone’s rival, the Justice Secretary could see her intentions were clear.

Britain’s new Prime Minister had chosen to take the side of the former London mayor over the man widely seen to have knifed him in the back, ending his ambitions to enter No 10.

Ever since Mr Gove’s decision after the referendum to stand against Mr Johnson for the Tory leadership, he has been regarded with fury and a measure of distaste by party colleagues.

Where they once saw an assiduously courteous Cabinet star, with a vast intellect and an admirable passion for his work, now stood a Machiavellian schemer.

“I can’t forgive Gove for what he did to Boris,” said one senior Conservative, speaking for many more.