Michael Gove, the former British cabinet minister, has expressed a desire to pursue a quieter life on a farm, revealing ambitions that echo the style of Jeremy Clarkson’s popular television programs. Speaking on Times Radio, Gove outlined his interest in owning a farm and producing his own version of Clarkson’s show, invoking the presenter’s famous phrase, “How hard could it be?” He also drew a parallel between this approach and the popular skepticism toward experts in public discourse.
Gove considered other entrepreneurial ventures, such as selling branded jams and condiments in the manner of Meghan Markle, but quickly dismissed the idea. “It worked for Paul Newman, but it wouldn’t work for me,” he remarked. Adding a touch of self-deprecating humor, he said the only product suitable to carry his image would be indigestion pills. Despite these ambitions, Gove noted that financial prospects were limited, joking that his children were already spending their inheritance, which he said was instead going primarily to companies like Microsoft and Deliveroo.
Meanwhile, reflections on appointments to the House of Lords surfaced from constitutional expert Peter Hennessy. Recently retired, Hennessy compared joining the upper chamber to becoming part of a collection of exhibits. However, he expressed some reservations about the value of recent appointees, suggesting that some selections appeared questionable. “I don’t want to be in any way derogatory,” Hennessy said during an appearance on the Lord Speaker’s Corner podcast, “but there are one or two appointments where one does wonder what it was for.” He acknowledged the difficulty in reforming the peerage system, quipping that one cannot require appointees to have “read a book.”
In parliamentary circles, concerns were raised about the focus and engagement of Members of Parliament during discussions on pressing technological challenges. Sky News technology correspondent Rowland Manthorpe observed a select committee hearing on artificial intelligence where roughly half of the MPs appeared distracted by their mobile phones. This came despite experts warning that AI posed a 50-50 chance of causing catastrophic harm to humanity. Manthorpe suggested that such messages might be better received through platforms like TikTok.
Elsewhere, revelations about author and Tory peer Jeffrey Archer’s promotional tactics emerged from an article in a political magazine. Charles Moore recounted how Archer, known for his time in prison as well as his writing, would arrive early at American media interviews and provide the host with suggested questions. This tactic helped create a favorable public persona, emphasizing his connection to figures like former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and implying royal approval without direct confirmation.
At the Cheltenham Literature Festival, author Gyles Brandreth encountered an unusual internet error during a panel discussion. Fellow novelist Kathy Lette had discovered a false online report claiming Brandreth died in 1972. The glitch sparked laughter and a joking suggestion from Lette that Brandreth’s latest book must have been ghostwritten. She offered a jovial “kiss of life” to Brandreth, who remains active in literature and public life.