Former Tory minister Michael Gove took his seat in the House of Lords today.
Baron Gove of Torry was sworn in to the upper chamber this morning, having been handed a peerage by outgoing PM Rishi Sunak.
The Tory veteran, who was handed a peerage in Rishi Sunak’s resignation honours list, wore the traditional scarlet robes for the short introduction ceremony at Westminster, where he swore the oath of allegiance to the King.
Torry is the maritime area of Aberdeen where his father, Ernest, ran a fish-processing business.
Mr Gove stood down at the last election after 19 years as MP for Surrey Heath, having held Cabinet positions including education secretary.
He also helped to lead the Brexit campaign in 2016, before a high-profile falling out with Boris Johnson as they vied to lead the Conservative Party.
He is now the editor of the Spectator magazine – also once edited by Mr Johnson.
Baron Gove of Torry was sworn in to the upper chamber this morning, having been handed a peerage by outgoing PM Rishi Sunak .
He took the oath dressed in ermine, confirming he will take a title linked to his Scottish upbringing.
Mr Gove stood down at the last election after 19 years as MP for Surrey Heath, having held Cabinet positions including education secretary. He also helped to lead the Brexit campaign in 2016, before a high-profile falling out with Boris Johnson as they vied to lead the Conservative Party.
He was supported by close allies and fellow Conservative peers Baroness Finn and Lord Vaizey of Didcot.
As he left the chamber, Lord Gove laughed loudly at a whispered comment made by leader of the Lords Baroness Smith of Basildon as she welcomed him to the upper chamber.
The politician, who had been MP for Surrey Heath since 2005, was among the most high-profile members of the Conservative Party to call time on his Commons career at the last election.
He cited the ‘toll’ of public office as he said it was time to let ‘a new generation lead’ following a political career spanning nearly 20 years.
He conceded he had ‘undoubtedly made mistakes’ throughout his political career but said he had always ‘tried to be a voice for those who have been overlooked and undervalued’.
When in Government he sparked controversy after he suggested the upper chamber could move to Stoke-on-Trent during the multibillion-pound restoration of the parliamentary estate.
The then levelling up secretary put forward the idea after ruling out the Queen Elizabeth II Centre, which is just a few minutes’ walk from the Palace of Westminster in London, as an alternative location.
It led former Lord Speaker Lord Fowler to accuse him of acting ‘like a 19th century mill owner’.
Speaking to the Aberdeen Evening Express last month about his title, Mr Gove said: ‘It’s really in memory of my dad who passed away in 2023. He meant everything to me. He was a wonderful man.
‘I’d love for my dad to be remembered just as he was; a hard worker, a good businessman and someone who always cared about other people, someone who always tried to give a start to people others didn’t see the potential in.’
Mr Gove, now 57, was born Graeme Andrew Logan in Aberdeen on August 26, 1967. He was taken in and then adopted by Ernest and his wife, Christine, arriving with nothing but the clothes on his back.
He said: ‘I felt that I wanted to take the title particularly in honour of my dad but also in recognition of my parents.’
