Michael Gove has dismissed Boris Johnson’s claim of being a victim of a “kangaroo court” and suggested the Government was now trying to move on from the drama caused by the former premier’s resignation as an MP. 

Mr Johnson sent shockwaves through Westminster on Friday last week as he announced his decision to quit the Commons. 

He accused the Privileges Committee of “bias” and labelled its partygate investigation into whether he misled Parliament a “witch hunt”. 

Asked if he agreed with Mr Johnson that the committee was a “kangaroo court”, Mr Gove told Sky News that “it is a properly constituted committee of the House of Commons with distinguished and experienced MPs on it”.

He added: “Neither of us have yet read the report so we will have to wait and see and pass judgement on it later. But no, I wouldn’t describe the committee as a kangaroo court, not at all.” 

Mr Gove suggested the Government was now seeking to move on, telling Times Radio “it is important that everyone recognises that the Government is getting on with the most important things”.

Mr Gove and Mr Johnson have long been Tory rivals, with the former famously sabotaging the latter’s 2016 bid for the leadership. But Mr Gove was full of praise for Mr Johnson this morning as he said he will “always think of Boris with affection”.

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