Michael Gove accused of ‘muscling in’ on Priti Patel’s turf by calling meetings on Afghan crisis 

Michael Gove has been accused of muscling in on Home Secretary Priti Patel‘s patch after convening meetings on the Government’s response to the resettlement of Afghan refugees.

The Cabinet Office Minister – tipped for a move to either the Home Office or the Foreign Office in the next reshuffle – caused raised eyebrows in Ms Patel’s department last week when he convened two meetings of a new ‘committee on Afghan resettlement’, despite it being Ms Patel’s area of responsibility.

A Government source said last night: ‘Michael can’t help himself. He wants to be involved in absolutely everything, and can’t help dabbling.’

Ms Patel has been put in charge of Operation Warm Welcome, the Government scheme to help the thousands of UK allies fleeing Kabul to rebuild their lives in the UK. 

The plans – overseen by Victoria Atkins, a new Minister for Afghan Resettlement – aim to ensure Afghans who risked their lives by working with the British military and the Government receive health, education, employment and accommodation support to integrate into society.

Ms Patel has created a central portal to register offers of support on issues such as job opportunities or dealing with trauma. 

It can also be used to register gifts of clothes, toys and English-language courses.

The renewed tensions between Mr Gove and Ms Patel come after The Mail on Sunday reported this month that Mr Gove was being tipped to replace Ms Patel, who is blamed within No 10 for the migrant boat crisis.

One MP close to Ms Patel said: ‘However much Gove might want the job, it just wouldn’t work.’ 

Asked whether Mr Gove was ‘muscling in’, a source in his department said: ‘The PM asked Michael to chair a committee on Afghan resettlement to co-ordinate a cross-Government response.’