Gove reminded of his ‘Sash’ credentials ahead of NI Protocol meeting

Taking MPs’ questions before heading off to meet European Commission Vice-President Maros Sefcovic, the Cabinet Office minister was encouraged by Ian Paisley to “protect the Union”.

The DUP MP said Mr Gove “boasts of his unionist credentials,” and had “even boasted once in my local paper that he could sing The Sash”.

Mr Paisley was referring to quotes attributed to Mr Gove in a 2019 book written by Owen Bennett.

In a videolink question, Mr Paisley said: “Today he has a chance to protect the Union in his meeting with Maros Sefcovic. Will he make clear that the [NI] protocol is causing societal and economic damage to the Union, and will he press on with the alternative arrangements that he previously supported and was signed up to?”

Mr Gove replied that Mr Paisley was correct, that he does indedd have a “formidible singing repertoire”.

Mr Gove said: “I can also sing the Fields of Athenry and Flower of Scotland.

“I am a convinced unionist. I do believe in the strength of the United Kingdom, all of us working together with him, and all representatives from Northern Ireland in order to ensure that our United Kingdom can flourish in the future.”