Andrew Neil mocks Michael Gove over Tory leadership bid: 'I do not want to present Question Time'

Presenter reminds Mr Gove of his protestations that he would not be up to the job of Prime Minister

Whatever your view on Michael Gove’s eleventh-hour bid for Tory leadership, that he walked right into a sea of 'the lady doth protest too much' jokes is something everyone will likely agree on.

The Justice Secretary announced his nomination in the contest triggered by David Cameron's resignation despite having protested he was incapable of running the country on a number of occasions.

First to tease Mr Gove on his conflicting statements was Andrew Neil during a segment for This Week.

“Let me make clear what I have repeatedly said before,” Neil began on Thursday evening. “I do not want to present Question Time. I could not present Question Time. I’m not equipped to present Question Time.”

“This has always been my view. There are lots of talented people who could do it. But count me out. Whatever posters you put up on your wall, do no put one up of me. There are far better people than me who could and should do it. But not me."

He then accepted an 'offer' from the BBC director general to present the show.

If what Neil is saying sounds familiar, it should. Mr Gove has insisted he isn’t the man for the job in a number of interviews, often spouting arguments along the lines of:

“I could not be prime minister, I am not equipped to be prime minister, I don’t want to be prime minister.”

“I don’t want to do it and there are people who are far better equipped than me to do it.”

“I don’t want to do it; I wouldn’t do it; it wouldn’t matter how many people asked me to do it.”

Mr Gove was widely expected to back Boris Johnson, who announced he would not be putting himself forward in the leadership race shortly after Mr Gove came forward as a contender.