The Justice Secretary set his hat against the Prime Minister last week as the cabinet split over the EU vote.
With 23 June confirmed as the EU referendum date, the scene is set for a clash of titans: Eurosceptic Michael Gove versus pro-EU David Cameron.
Gove explained in a statement that: “The EU tries to standardise and regulate rather than encourage diversity and innovation.”
He said: “Rules like the EU clinical trials directive have slowed down the creation of new drugs to cure terrible diseases and European Court of Justice judgments on data protection issues hobble the growth of internet companies.”
Gove’s stance puts him at odds not only with the PM but also large parts of the legal profession.
About 300 lawyers have formed a campaign group, Lawyers–In for Britain, to support Britain’s membership of the EU. The group has held several events, and is due to launch a report later this month setting out its case.
Separately, City firms are urging clients to consider the implications of a Brexit. A recent survey commissioned by Herbert Smith Freehills found that, of 200 UK-based businesses, most of the companies’ boards of directors have not yet formally considered the impact of a Brexit on their activities.
