When I heard on Radio 5 Live that Michael Gove is to run for the Tory leadership, I admit I was delighted. Many years ago I, and in fact my Independent colleague John Rentoul, worked together on a BBC Sunday lunchtime politics show called On the Record. You may remember it; it was the one with the crocodile opening credits. I remember vividly when the editor of the show, Glenwyn Benson, told us we were getting a talented new reporter to join the team, in about 1992 or so. Great, I thought, thinking of the usual wizened, red-nosed but well-connected lobby hack of the era. Instead this child walked into the production office: rather tweedy, extremely courteous, but just so unprepossessing.

Well, we all soon learned what a brilliant journalist Michael was, and he possessed in abundance all the qualities that are supposed to be required – inquisitiveness, love of gossip (he had some superb dirt on Tory MPs, some of whom are now in the cabinet with him), knowledge, contacts and, of course, wit. Late nights in the edit suite ploughing through backbencher interviews and soundbites from experts were a joy, no less. If he does get the job he will be the most naturally charming person to hang out in Number 10, and there have been some real smoothies as well as ogres round there.

Michael Gove says vote to Remain would make British public 'hostages' to the EU

I was in doubt, though, about Michael’s political instincts. Later on I did some research for him on his biography of Michael Portillo, subtitled “the Future of the Right”, published during the Major government. In it, the admiration for Portillo and Portillo’s then clear-blue thinking – contrasted with John Major’s fudges and trimming – was quite apparent. Michael struck me as both an ardent Thatcherite, including the usual dosage of Euroscepticism, and an enthusiastic (Ulster) Unionist, of distinctly orange hue, as well as that unusual creature even then, a Scottish Tory.

The favourites in the Tory leadership race Show all 5 1 /5 The favourites in the Tory leadership race The favourites in the Tory leadership race Theresa May The longest-serving Home Secretary in 100 years took a back seat in the referendum campaign. While backing Remain, she did not hit the campaign trail and delivered only a handful of speeches and interviews, and was critical of many aspects of the EU, particularly the European Convention on Human Rights. Hedging her bets allows her to now emerge as a ‘unity’ candidate, and she is said to have been building up her back-room staff in preparation for a leadership bid. She has the significant advantage of having served in one of the great offices of state, in a steady and competent manner that has won her many admirers within party and the civil service. At a time of great instability, it may be that she is viewed as steady hand on the tiller. Mrs May does however, lack the ‘star quality’ of a Boris Johnson and party members may doubt her ability to connect with ordinary voters PA The favourites in the Tory leadership race Michael Gove The Justice Secretary may be able to set himself up as ‘the thinking Tory’s Brexit candidate’. Made an enormous political and personal decision to back Leave, taking on his old friend David Cameron. He performed well during the TV debates, and will be an admired figure among Eurosceptic Conservatives. Along with Johnson, he will be hindered by the fact that he led a very divisive campaign, characterised by ‘blue-on-blue’ action. MPs may also judge that he lacks Boris Johnson’s wider appeal with the electorate. Possibly more likely that he will settle for being his new bosom buddy Boris’s Chancellor Getty The favourites in the Tory leadership race Stephen Crabb Highly-rated Work and Pensions Secretary, raised on a council estate, so could reach out to non-traditional working class Tory voters Getty Images The favourites in the Tory leadership race Andrea Leadsom Minister of State for Energy at the Department of Energy and Climate Change is one of the most prominent figures in the Leave campaign, seen to have performed well in TV debates Rex Features The favourites in the Tory leadership race Liam Fox British Conservative MP and former Secretary of State for Defence, as sources said he will stand for the leadership of the Conservative Party AFP/Getty

On the other hand, he was socially liberal. Difficult as it may be for me to believe now, we spent a happy few hours together filming round Old Compton Street in the run-up to the vote in parliament on lowering the age of consent for gay men from 18 to 16. Like most of us, Michael seemed entirely relaxed on the subject, and overwhelmingly tolerant and decent about race, gender and sexual politics. Exploring the basement of what was called “Britain's First Gay Supermarket” together – this was basically an enormous sex shop – surrounded by assorted toys, stimulants and novelty outfits, I really had little inkling that the giggling figure next to me would one day be Prime Minister of the United Kingdom taking us out of the European Union. But there is video evidence – someone will very shortly dig out the archive of Michael doing his “piece to camera” in front of a troupe of gay men in leather shorts dancing round Soho, delivering the line “Out, Loud and Proud…” as punchily as he could in his soft Aberdonian accent.