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Michael Gove has been reported to the Information Commissioner over claims he leaked a journalist’s private email to a rival publication.

It followed claims Mr Gove had paid a digital marketing firm linked to Cambridge Analytica during his campaign for the Tory leadership.

He’s alleged to have paid AggregateIQ, a Canadian firm described by whistleblowers as a “franchise” of CA parent company SLC Elections, £2,720.46 in 2016 to set up his campaign website.

Observer journalist Carole Cadwalladr emailed Mr Gove to ask for comment ahead of publishing the story.

But last night, the Guido Fawkes blog published details of the email, claiming the payment was put through on his behalf by his Remain-backing campaign manager Nick Boles.

(Image: Getty Images Europe)

Ms Cadwalladr tweeted: “How interesting. Michael Gove has leaked an email I sent him to Guido Fawkes. Is this normal behaviour for a government minister?”

She later tweeted an email to the Parliamentary Commissoner for Standards.

She wrote: “I believe that this behaviour runs counter to what one would expect from a minister of state paid from the public purse. I followed good journalistic practice and I had a reasonable expectation that my communications would remain private.

“The information was leaked to Guido, I assume, to spike my story and to smear my reputation.”

A spokesperson for Mr Gove declined to comment.

Ms Cadwalladr later tweeted to say she had also reported Mr Gove to the Cabinet Secretary.

It’s the second time one of Ms Cadwalladr’s approach emails has been made public during her investigation into claims linking the Vote Leave campaign to SLC Elections and Cambridge Analytica.

Whistleblower Shahmir Sanni claimed Vote Leave broke campaign spending rules, and channelled money to SCL Elections through donations to an independent campaign group, BeLeave.

But when Ms Cadwalladr approached Vote Leave campaign director Dominic Cummings for comment, he posted her email on his blog, as part of an 8,000 word article denying the allegations.

This story originally said Ms Cadwalladr had reported Mr Gove to the Information Commissioner. In fact, he was reported to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards. We are happy to correct the error.