Michael Gove: Why 'perfectly suited' Tory has been appointed The Spectator's editor

Former Conservative cabinet minister Michael Gove has been appointed as the new editor of The Spectator.

Mr Gove, who stepped down from Parliament at the general election, will become the magazine’s new editor at the start of next month, and is “perfectly suited to the role”, according to Freddie Sayers, publisher of The Spectator and the chief executive of new owner OQS.

What is Michael Gove’s journalism background?

Mr Gove, who served in the governments of David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak, was a journalist before he became an MP.

Michael Gove is the new Spectator editor. Picture: PA | PA

His will take up the job after final approval from Acoba, the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments.

The position has been held by Fraser Nelson, who will step down “after 15 incredibly successful years”, Mr Sayers said in a message posted on X.

Mr Nelson will “continue to write for The Spectator and will become Associate Editor”, Mr Sayers said.

Earlier this month, it was confirmed the magazine had been bought by GB-News backer Sir Paul Marshall for £100 million. The Spectator is one of the world’s oldest politics and current affairs magazines, established in 1828 in London’s Old Queen Street.

Why has Michael Gove been appointed Spectator editor?

In a statement on Wednesday afternoon, Mr Sayers said the job of editor of The Spectator “requires a rare breadth of intellectual interests and depth of journalistic experience”.

“Alongside his political and journalistic nous, Michael brings a love of books, philosophy, art, opera — and a mischievous sense of humour. He is perfectly suited to this role, and I can’t wait to work together to bring The Spectator to new audiences,” he added.

Mr Nelson described Mr Gove as “the obvious successor” to the role.

“His experience, combined with his journalistic skills and the quality of the team around him, will make for quite a potent combination,” Mr Nelson said.