Michael Gove now the key player

Amidst all the political chaos in the last 24 hours over the Theresa May Brexit deal, two politicians have said sensible things which might just turn the course of events in her favour. First of all, Michael Gove, Environment Secretary and a firm supporter of the UK leaving the EU, decided against resigning, and made it clear he felt his duty was to stay in government in order to help win the right deal for Britain's future. Second, Liam Fox, International Trade Secretary and a fellow determined Brexiteer, made the point during an event that MPs were not elected to do what they wanted but to act in the national interest. Well, that's a breath of fresh air. Those who have already resigned - two cabinet ministers and four junior ministers - did so without laying out what the alternative was to May's deal. So their selfish actions were not in the national interest. Michael Gove who has played a similarly disloyal part in the past for his own self interest has clearly learned a good political lesson. Staying in government to help fight for our country's future is infinitely more acceptable and worthy than slamming the door and flouncing off in the hope that your party will turn to you as the new leader. He discovered that to his cost in 2016 when he tried to be prime minister in the Conservative leadership election, in the process betraying Boris Johnson by dropping his support for him and telling the world he didn't think the former Mayor of London was the right man to move into 10 Downing Street. His disloyalty to Boris and his failed attempt to beat Theresa May did huge damage to his political and personal reputation. But he eventually bounced back and now he has made the right decision: stick with Theresa and play a role in forging a better way forward for Britain. Definitely the correct decision!! Liam Fox's comment is also a good message for all Conservative MPs considering trying to topple Theresa May. Is it about her leadership or more about their own self-interest? Gove's decision to stay may well make a big difference both for Theresa May's survival and the eventual vote in parliament on her Brexit deal. Yesterday most politicians were saying the Brexit deal was dead in the water. But the Gove intervention and the Fox comment might change that. Nobody, except for a few wild newspaper columnists, can possibly think that this deal is worse than having no deal at all.