Michael Gove Quotes
Making promises and then saddling yourself with a political system and a political union that means that you cannot deliver those promises, I fear, doesn't contribute to an atmosphere of trust and confidence in politics.
Gove, Michael. Interview by Faisal Islam. EU Referendum: The Debate, Sky News, 3 June 2016.
This is a complaint that many nations make against the United States. Few foreigners really understand the United States form of government which differs from the usual Parliamentary form that exists in most of the world. Specifically, in the Parliamentary system, the Government (Executive Branch) and the Legislature are one and the same. Often it includes the judiciary. In America we have separation of powers and these branches not only are not coordinated and consistent but are often at odds with each other. As a result, Presidents and Secretaries of State can make honest commitments and promises but later find that the Congress will block American fulfillment of the promise. At the time, the most glaring example was President Wilson who was so active in advocating a League of Nations and then when it became a reality, the Senate would not ratify the treaty and America could not join, thereby dooming it to failure. There have been many other examples in history. Another dramatic one was President Obama promising to close the prison camp at Guantanamo Bay during the War on Terror, Congress would not appropriate any funds to move the prisoners anywhere else, and the President’s promise to other nations could not be fulfilled. This is a structural part of the American system. Some people see it as a weakness; others, as a strength.
Germany was the enemy but the allies were fighting with each other over the treaty negotiations. David Lloyd George was the Prime Minister of England who was negotiating for that country.
Michael Andrew Gove is a British politician and writer serving as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster since 2019 and Minister for the Cabinet Office since 2020. He has been Member of Parliament (MP) for Surrey Heath since 2005. A member of the Conservative Party, he served as Education Secretary from 2010 to 2014, Chief Whip from 2014 to 2015, Justice Secretary from 2015 to 2016 and Environment Secretary from 2017 to 2019. He has twice run to become Leader of the Conservative Party, in 2016 and 2019, finishing in third place on both occasions.
