Michael Gove Quotes

If I am prime minister, we will come out of the European Union, and part of that will be control of free movement.

You don't need to be a John Maynard Keynes to understand that if Britain leaves the European market, a border will have to be put in place - and that would break U.K. obligations in a treaty lodged at the United Nations.

The referendum was clear: the British people voted to leave the single market and to take back control of our borders.

Our idea is to make the U.K. a privileged partner of the E.U.

The negotiations on the future of the U.K. and the E.U. must be led... in the interest of our citizens.

A Canada-style deal for the whole of the UK results in a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. For that reason, it has never been acceptable to the EU without a permanent hard border down the Irish Sea.

What I would rather see, what I think would be the best outcome, is a very close relationship between the United Kingdom and the E.U.

If the U.K. had new watertight proposals for the border, I don't think anyone in the E.U. would say, 'We don't want to talk about it.'

I am an optimist about the UK. We have been involved in trade with our European partners, which we will always be doing whatever this relationship is. We are a member of the EU. That gives us benefits. But we have to figure out where that is going. In the world, we are a global trader already.

I do not share the half-in, half-out attitude to the EU of some in Britain. Britain's place is in Europe.

The next leader of this country needs to be someone who believes heart and soul that Britain should be outside the European Union.

France no longer has any borders because of the E.U.

I personally hope and wish that Britain will stay part and parcel of the European Union.

Only the U.K. can trigger Article 50. And in my judgement, we should only do that when there is a clear view about what new arrangements we are seeking with our European neighbours.

Under Conservative, Labour, and coalition governments, the U.K. was never willing to accept all the moves to union or all the requirements of the E.U.

Calling into question the Touquet deal on the pretext that Britain has voted for Brexit and will have to start negotiations to leave the union doesn't make sense.

I strongly suspect that there would be a positive economic advantage to the U.K. in leaving the single market.

I don't want to leave euro or leave the European Union.

It will be crucial the E.U. and the U.K. maintain the closest economic relationship possible.

When it comes to whether Britain should remain in the European Union, almost all political parties and traditions - Labour, the Greens, Liberal Democrats, the SNP, Plaid Cymru, and half of the Tory Party - agree that we are better off in Europe.

It's difficult to see how the U.K. can be a member of the E.U. if it's not adherent to the principles set out in the convention.

I cannot support an indefinite backstop arrangement where the E.U. holds a veto over our ability to exit.

We were right to make the case for the U.K. to negotiate a comprehensive customs union with the E.U. And we are right to argue for a strong single market deal, based on common standards, protections and regulations: the right balance of rights and obligation.

Like most MPs, I campaigned and voted to remain in the EU. I was concerned that extricating ourselves from a relationship built up over 40 years would be complex and challenging and that the economic cost of increasing friction in our trade with the EU would be high.

Personally, I would prefer Britain to remain within a more flexible E.U., with access to the single market but without the excessive regulation or constant efforts to direct social, justice, or foreign policy. But if that's not possible, I believe this country could - and should - thrive outside the E.U.