Are we set for a Govexit?

Regardless of the result of the UK referendum on whether to remain a member of the EU, we might well see a new secretary of state for justice after 23 June 2016.

Rumour has it that the justice secretary, Michael Gove, is for the ministerial chopping block thanks to his decision to oppose the prime minister's efforts to keep Britain in the EU.

Having already backed the 'Vote Leave' campaign last week, the Lord Chancellor doubled down on his position by challenging David Cameron's claim that the new EU deal was 'legally binding'.

A lifelong Eurosceptic, Gove has argued that the European Court of Justice 'stands above every nation state' and could overturn Cameron's renegotiation deal with EU leaders.

A government minister told The Telegraph: 'It is untenable to have a justice secretary after the referendum who opposed the legal basis of the prime minister's deal. It just won't work.'

According to the BBC's political editor, Laura Kuenssberg, Downing Street has told Ministry of Justice (MoJ) officials to stop showing their head of department any documents relating to the EU deal.

The news comes following an account by Sarah Vine - Gove's wife - in the Daily Mail, in which she recounts a dinner at Boris Johnson's house ahead of the Tory bigwig's backing of a Brexit.

Vine writes that 'a senior cabinet minister, accompanied by a lawyer, came on speakerphone to discuss the complexities of law in relation to sovereignty'.

Gove is no stranger to the cabinet reshuffle broom, having been axed from his Education brief in 2014.

Suggestion that the former Times journalist could once again be in the firing line should come as no surprise when you consider that the prime minister has form for getting rid of cabinet troublemakers.

Dominic Grieve QC's sacking from the attorney general post followed his opposition to human rights reforms and is a prime example of Cameron getting rid of those that stand in his way.

Cameron has already told MPs he is not standing for re-election in 2020, so he would seem to have nothing to lose in doing away with those he deemed untrustworthy.

However, considering the conciliatory strides made since his MoJ appointment - and the bulk scrapping of his predecessor's policies - lawyers will be worried that Gove's replacement will turn out to be Grayling 2.0.

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