Michael Gove Tweets About Freedom Of Press And Article 50 Ruling, People Rip Him Anyway

'Turn it in you tart.'

Michael Gove has made a series of observations about the High Court Article 50 ruling after returning from a trip to the United States.

In a series of 12 tweets, the MP for Surrey Heath mused on freedom of the press in the UK and the independence of the judiciary in the wake of heavy criticism of the judges involved in last week’s decision.

Although eloquently argued, this is the internet so naturally a lot of people took the Michael out of Michael.

1) The Intro

1/after a fascinating four days in US it's great to be back home - and have the chance to reflect on our constitutional debate

— Michael Gove (@michaelgove) November 7, 2016

@michaelgove you have no right to lecture anyone about what's right & true. Take a long, hard look in the mirror. Your mess. you ran away.

— David O Wooha (@WoohaDavid) November 7, 2016

2) The Lay Of The Legal Land

2/ The first thing to note is that judicial independence is critical to the rule of law and any proper democracy

— Michael Gove (@michaelgove) November 7, 2016

@michaelgove Learn how to make threads properly Jesus Christ

— James (@JamesAFoster_) November 7, 2016

3) Three Wise Men

3/the high court judges who've ruled on Article 50 are brilliant, thoughtful, wise and decent men - their judgment deserves respect

— Michael Gove (@michaelgove) November 7, 2016

@michaelgove turn it in you tart.

— The Churchillian (@thecardiffarms) November 7, 2016

4) The Good People

4/ Good people can differ on their reasoning and conclusion - but I find much of it persuasive

— Michael Gove (@michaelgove) November 7, 2016

@michaelgove #brexit maestro speaks with forked tongue? Is it because no one believed in you?

— @lex woods (@DizzySpeIIs) November 7, 2016

5) Three Not Just Wise But Also Brilliant Men

5/ however, even if I didn't agree with elements of their reasoning I'd personally treat the judgement of 3 brilliant men with respect

— Michael Gove (@michaelgove) November 7, 2016

@michaelgove so you are telling people now to listen to experts, Michael? #confusedDotCom

— Tal Ofer (@TalOfer) November 7, 2016

6) #LestWeForgetVoltaire

6/BUT the freedom of the press is also important- some of us may object to judgements - others to headlines - but let's remember Voltaire

— Michael Gove (@michaelgove) November 7, 2016

@michaelgove absolutely let's remember Voltaire but also, I'm sorry, Goebells. Lie loudly and enough and people believe.

— Paul Unwin (@UnwinPaul) November 7, 2016

7/a raucous, vigorous, press is just as much a guarantor of freedom as our independent judiciary - we are the land of Wilkes and Edward Coke

— Michael Gove (@michaelgove) November 7, 2016

@michaelgove yes, we're also the land of The Sun and your wife's rag

— Benjamin Fairfax (@bpfairfax) November 7, 2016

8) Ah, Good Old Godwin

8/I note that commentators I admire like @NickCohen4 are equating questioning of a specific High Court ruling with Nazism #GodwinsLaw

— Michael Gove (@michaelgove) November 7, 2016

@michaelgove @NickCohen4 Headline stating judges are the enemy of the people IS directly from 1930s Nazi propaganda book. And so are you.

— (((Peter Vintner))) (@pvandck) November 7, 2016

9) The Sinners And The Unwise

9/ They exhibit the sins they attribute to others - intemperate criticism of both independent judiciary and free press is unwise

— Michael Gove (@michaelgove) November 7, 2016

@michaelgove Michael, are you drunk?

— BlackPrinceThe (@lewyj90) November 7, 2016

10) Better Than The EU

10/ and many miss the real story - we have a independent judges - ECJ is political court - we in UK have free press - EU - not so much

— Michael Gove (@michaelgove) November 7, 2016

.@michaelgove The press freedom index, 2016 ranking:
1. Finland
2. Netherlands
4. Denmark
38. UKhttps://t.co/QoZ06f0SaP

— gento (@gentomobile) November 7, 2016

.@michaelgove pants on fire @FullFact

— gento (@gentomobile) November 7, 2016

11) The Damning

11/ people who object to what they damn as irrational tabloid media often deploy visceral and instinctive arguments themselves

— Michael Gove (@michaelgove) November 7, 2016

@michaelgove trying to have your logical cake and eating it. Either condemn or don't but this is illogical.

— Paul Unwin (@UnwinPaul) November 7, 2016

12) The Conclusion

12/The future of our nation masters. I'm passionate about one destiny. But I care even more about respecting different views and values

— Michael Gove (@michaelgove) November 7, 2016

. @michaelgove 12 tweets summarised in a single photo pic.twitter.com/GNOL0JOrzj

— Alastair Hughes (@AliAliAfro) November 7, 2016

Theresa May’s spokesman has said he does not think the judiciary is being undermined by extreme coverage of the successful Article 50 legal challenge.

The Guardian reported he refused to condemn any of last Friday’s front pages, despite widespread criticism of the coverage in a number of papers, including the Daily Mail, Daily Express, Sun and Daily Telegraph.

He said: “I don’t think the British judiciary is being undermined.

“I’m not commenting on newspaper coverage.”

The comment prompted some to criticise May online...

This is our Prime Minister's spineless and shameful response to today's attacks on judicial independence. Our Lord Chancellor remains silent pic.twitter.com/GGSlCNkXnG

— The Secret Barrister (@BarristerSecret) November 4, 2016
Close

What's Hot