Michael Gove has arrived at the newly minted Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) with a reputation as the government’s Vincent Wolfe – otherwise known as the cleaner from Quentin Tarantino’s film Pulp Fiction.

If there is a messy and often blood-splattered policy problem, be it criminal justice or a disjointed environment department, enter the Govester. His track record of intellect, drive and determination to embrace his departmental brief and ability to win influence and credit from senior judiciary and leading environmentalists goes before him. There is a serious man in town.

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