Rishi Sunak on Monday sent out Michael Gove to repel an extraordinary onslaught by Boris Johnson in the latest twist of the Tory psychodrama.
The Levelling-up Secretary appeared on the airwaves to defend the Government after Mr Johnson’s bombshell resignation as an MP on Friday.
He praised Mr Johnson’s achievements as Prime Minister but also stressed that Tory MPs should be focusing on the jobs of the British public, rather than those at Westminster.
After Mr Johnson’s dramatic departure, Mr Gove also told of “feeling a sense of sadness at his passing”.
But asked on ITV’s Good Morning Britain who was the better leader of the Tory party and PM, Mr Gove said: “Rishi.
“I’ve listed some of the things that Boris did...significant achievements.
“But Rishi is bringing a freshness and focus to Government.
“The focus that he is bringing,...the intellect that he brings to bear, the hard work, the sheer dedication to public service mark Rishi out as a great Prime Minister.”
Mr Gove’s comments are likely to anger some of Mr Johnson’s allies who believe he was wrongly forced out of No10 and now Parliament.
The ex-PM announced he was quitting as he faced a damning verdict by the Commons Privileges Committee into whether he mislead Parliament over the partygate scandal.
He has claimed he is being driven out of Parliament, with his allies furious at his treatment.
But Mr Gove, who famously scuppered Mr Johnson’s bid to become Tory leader in 2016 before later being sacked by him when he was PM, sought to move on from the latest storm.
He told Times Radio: “Boris has made a decision to stand down from the House of Commons.
“I’m sad that it has come to this but I want to remember with admiration those things that he achieved while in office.
“But I also think now that Boris has made the decision to stand down, it’s important that everyone recognises that the Government is getting on with the most important thing, whatever people in Westminster think about their jobs, the most important thing is the jobs of people across our country.
“That’s why we are getting on with halving inflation, reducing the debt, growing the economy, making sure that we reduce waiting lists in the NHS and of course stopping the boats in the Channel,” he added, reeling off Mr Sunak’s five key priorities.
Later on LBC Radio, he added: “I believe the overwhelming majority of Conservative supporters, and certainly all MPs in the House of Commons, support Rishi Sunak in making sure that we focus on our five essential priorities.
“But of course, Boris standing down is a moment for all of us to reflect and gives me an opportunity to say thank you to him for his public service while he was Prime Minister and the achievements that he has to his record.”
Asked how Mr Johnson should be remember as PM and a Conservative politician, Mr Gove emphasised that it should be as a “really significant figure in the history of our times who had to deal with two unprecedented crises, war in Europe, the biggest conflict on the European Continent since 1945, in which he displayed iron resolution in supporting Volodymyr Zelensky, dealing with the Covid pandemic.
“He was responsible for the vaccines taskforce...and for the fastest vaccine roll-out in Europe.”
Pressed on went wrong for Mr Johnson, he added: “It’s inevitably difficult for me, having served in Boris’ government, having wanted him to succeed, and feeling a sense of sadness at his passing, it would be premature for me to pass a definitive judgement of that kind.”
Mr Gove also did not say how he would vote in any Commons vote following the publication of the Privileges Committee report into Mr Johnson.
But the Cabinet minister also defended the integrity of the committee which has come under fire from Mr Johnson, telling Sky News: "I wouldn't describe the committee as a 'kangaroo court'."
"Well, I'll have to read the report, like every Member of Parliament.
"Because I think all of us will have the opportunity to vote according to our judgment on this matter.
"I'll read the report, see what the recommendations are, make up my own mind."
Senior MPs were due to meet on Monday in the wake of Mr Johnson's dramatic Commons exit to conclude their inquiry into whether the former prime minister misled Parliament over No 10 lockdown parties.
The Privileges Committee has pledged to continue the investigation process after Mr Johnson stepped down as an MP and launched a scathing attack on the probe, branding it a "witch hunt".
The panel is set to meet in Westminster on Monday with a view to deciding when to publish its report.
There has been speculation the seven-person committee, which is chaired by veteran Labour MP Harriet Harman but has a Conservative majority, could release its findings as soon as Wednesday.
Commons aides on Sunday would only repeat the committee's commitment, made in the wake of Mr Johnson's resignation, to publish its conclusion "promptly".
The probe is thought to have ruled that Mr Johnson misled Parliament, possibly recklessly or intentionally, when he told MPs that Covid rules were followed in Downing Street despite boozy parties taking place while social distancing restrictions were in place.
Reports suggest the panel was set to recommend at least a 10-day suspension, reaching the threshold for a by-election to be potentially triggered in his Uxbridge and South Ruislip constituency.
Mr Johnson has accused the committee of "bias" and likened it to a "kangaroo court".
The Privileges Committee, in response, said Mr Johnson had "impugned the integrity of the House" with his attack.
While the former Tory Party leader would no longer be impacted by a decision to suspend him, given he has stood down from the green benches, the committee could possibly choose to apply other sanctions.
Former Commons speaker John Bercow was banned last year from being permitted a pass to gain entry to the parliamentary estate after being found guilty of bullying by Westminster's Independent Expert Panel.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is due to give a speech at London Tech Week on Monday.
Meanwhile, Mr Johnson has warned that the UK Covid-19 Inquiry could be "frustrated" following a legal submission to Baroness Hallett's investigation.
The ex-PM has offered to hand unredacted WhatsApp messages and notebooks to the inquiry, bypassing the Cabinet Office and its judicial review.
Ministers have begun a High Court challenge to stop the inquiry being given what they regard as "unambiguously irrelevant" materials.
A letter sent to the inquiry on Friday by Government lawyers noted that Mr Johnson took "a different position" and suggested officials would not give him back materials if "he intended simply to provide it, without protection, on to the inquiry".
Mr Johnson told The Times that the Cabinet Office was refusing to return his notebooks in case he turns them over to the inquiry, which is due to hear from witnesses for the first time this week.
"The Cabinet Office's foot-dragging approach to the inquiry is costing public time and money," he told the newspaper.
He said the Government's position was "now - in my view - frustrating the inquiry's work".
