Michael Gove has been named as the new editor of the Spectator magazine, following GB News backer Sir Paul Marshall’s £100m takeover of the politically right-leaning magazine.
Gove will take over from Fraser Nelson on October 4, and will be joined by the former Daily Telegraph and Spectator editor Charles Moore who has been named as chair.
Nelson joined the Spectator in 2006 and became editor in 2009. He has previously said in a blog that Gove, who worked as a journalist for The Spectator among other titles prior to his election to Parliament in 2005, was his “clear successor.”
The 57-year-old, who stepped down from parliament at the general election, served in the governments of David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak.
Gove will take up the role after final approval from Acoba, the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments, although associates believe this will be a formality as he was never involved in sectors such as media regulation while in government.
Moore takes over from outgoing chair Andrew Neil as chair.
Marshall, a hedge fund tycoon who also owns the UnHerd website, is also in the running to buy the Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph with the second round bids from prospective buyers due to be submitted by the end of this week.
Prior to standing down at July’s general elaction Aberdeen-born Gove was Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, aka the man in charge of “levelling up” the North of England.
