Cabinet? I've as much chance of playing for Bradford says Gove

Mr Gove was a candidate in the Conservative leadership race triggered by David Cameron’s resignation last year but lost out to Theresa May who left him out when she named her first cabinet.

His energetic general election campaigning has fuelled suggestions that a Conservative victory could prompt a return to Government for Mr Gove.

He said: “I think my being in Theresa May’s cabinet is about as likely as me being Bradford City’s star signing for the new season.

“I think Theresa is going to do very well in this election and very well in the next five years and I think Bradford City will do very very well in the next five years by steering clear of having me on the pitch.”

Until falling out with Mr Cameron over his decisiion to campaign for Brexit, Mr Gove was a key ally of the former prime minister in his efforts to modernise the Conservative Party.

Mr Gove rejected the suggestion that the fact that there is only one woman among the Conservatives’ candidates in the Bradford district and that all five candidates are white showed the party still had work to do to be more representative.

He said: “I think the critical thing is the breadth of support the candidates enjoy.”

Mr Gove continued: “The big difference, I think, is some of the other parties are trying to pit community against community whereas the Conservatives are the only political party in Bradford that have support across the communities and are not attempting to play sectional or community politics.”

Mr Gove was speaking after answering questions from Conservative activists at an event at Bradford City’s Valley Parade ground.

He was put on the spot over the Conservatives’ plans for social care which caused controversy when the party’s manifesto was published leading Mrs May to promise a cap on the costs any pensioner will face.

No figure has been put on the cap but Mr Gove told the audience that the it was “likely to be about £80,000”.

He said the figure will be the subject of a consultation if the Conservatives win to ensure it is set at a “fair level”.