"Take Off The Red Nose & Boris Is Still A Clown"
8 July 2016, 12:39 | Updated: 26 August 2016, 12:42
James O'Brien has a brilliant theory on why Michael Gove did the right thing by stabbing his friend Boris Johnson in the back.
The Justice Secretary was supposed to be running-mate to Boris in the battle to be the next Prime Minister.
But he decided to run to be next Conservative leader himself, forcing the former Mayor of London to pull out of the race.
Mr Gove's candidacy came to an abrupt end yesterday, as he came last in the second vote by Conservative MPs, with Theresa May and Andrea Leadsom the final two on the ballot paper.
And James thinks Gove did the right thing for the good of the country. Speaking on his LBC show, he said: "Gove was left looking at a field in which the only proper politician with a track record and a profile from the leave side on a trajectory to 10 Downing Street was Boris Johnson.
"I think Gove looked at him and had a moment where the scales fell from his eyes and he thought 'Oh my God, I'm going to be personally responsible for ending the career of David Cameron and replacing him with a man who it turns out, when you take off the red nose and the make-up, is still a clown'.
"That's why he did what he did.
"So I think he's behaved, oddly, in a very principled fashion.
"I also think he's made a complete wally of himself and an absolute herbert."
James thinks it marks the end of Mr Gove, but don't think Boris won't make a return.
He added: "I do not think anyone should write Boris Johnson off. He'll be back and I guarantee you, his fingers will still inch closer to the biggest pies of all.
"Gove's toast. Boris is resting."
