Would-be PM Michael Gove sparks Tory civil war by saying he’d delay Brexit to secure EU divorce deal

MICHAEL GOVE sparked a Tory civil war by admitting he would delay Brexit by months to secure an EU divorce deal.

Unveiling his Brexit plan for the first time, the Tory leadership heavyweight said he was “not wedded” to the October 31 negotiation deadline.

He called the deadline an “arbitrary date”.

And in comments that will infuriate rivals Boris Johnson and Dominic Raab he said those ready to default to a No Deal to get out of the EU by the end of October didn’t appear to “believe in this country”.

He claimed that forcing through a No Deal Brexit would lead to a General Election and a Jeremy Corbyn government.

Speaking to Tory MPs at a leadership hustings Mr Gove said he believed he could solve the Brexit logjam by pursuing a Canada-style free trade agreement with the EU.

And he would put a “fullstop to the Irish backstop” by accelerating investment in technology to ensure an invisible border between Northern Ireland and the Republic. In another dig at Boris Johnson he said: “It’s not enough just to believe in Brexit, you have to deliver it.

“The best way to honour the referendum result is to secure a Canada-style free trade agreement, tailored for our particular needs,” he said.

“That is how we will take back control of our laws, borders and money.”

TORY BACKLASH

Challenged later at a separate London event about the issue of trust after he pulled out of backing Boris Johnson in the 2016 leadership contest, Mr Gove said: “That was then. This is now.

“The question is who do we believe would take the right decisions?

“Who is the pilot who has landed the plane successfully?”

Supporters insisted Mr Gove was only willing to countenance a short Brexit delay if a deal was “95 per cent of the way there” by October 31. He could still opt for a No Deal at a later date, they said.

Ex-Minister and key aide George Eustice told The Sun: “It might mean a few weeks or months. We’re not going to flounce off over a few months.”

But arch Brexiteeers reacted with fury and claimed Mr Gove - the former Vote Leave champion - was chasing ‘Remain’ votes in the race to replace Theresa May.

Ex-Tory party leader Iain Duncan Smith stormed: “The salvation of the Conservative Party lies in getting out on October 31st.

“It seems he no longer cares about Brexiteers and is playing to another gallery.”

Mr Gove insisted he was the only candidate who could truly deliver Brexit and win over MPs from other parties.

He insisted as many as 50 Labour MPs may now back a deal because the leadership was moving towards a second referendum.

He said: “Some folk will say this chap has this or that piece of baggage. I would say look at the record. I have been able to expand Tory support.

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