The Rest Is Politics: Leading 159. Michael Gove: My Journey From Left to Right (Part 1)
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Oct 27, 2025 
Michael Gove, a former senior Conservative cabinet minister and current editor of The Spectator, discusses his journey from a Labour activist to a Conservative MP. He reflects on his early political activism and the role of social mobility in his life. Gove shares insights on Rupert Murdoch's influence on media and politics, and his staunch support for Israel, rooted in personal and moral beliefs. The conversation also touches on the complexities of British-Muslim relations and the future of the two-state solution in Israel.
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Adoption And Upbringing Shaped Early Life
- Michael Gove recounts being born in Aberdeen and adopted, raised by loving parents who paid for his independent schooling.
- He explains he hasn’t sought his birth parents partly to protect his adoptive mother's feelings.
Social Mobility Through Parental Sacrifice
- Gove describes his parents as ordinary, loving, and unpretentious despite social mobility changes.
- He credits their sacrifices, like paying school fees, for enabling his educational opportunities.
From Teenage Labour Activist To Conservative
- Gove joined the Labour Party aged 16 and campaigned in Aberdeen North for Michael Foot in 1983.
- He later shifted toward conservatism during his final year at school and at university.