Michael Gove, one of the chief architects of Brexit, has said he envisages that EU citizens will be able to "move freely" in and around the UK after the pull-out is completed.

The UK's former justice secretary Michael Gove has leapt to the defence of Boris Johnson after the emergence of a previously unseen newspaper column.

The battle for UK prime minister has been whittled down to two female candidates as Michael Gove is eliminated from the contest.

Stanley Johnson, father of Boris Johnson, says he stands by his initial reaction to the decision by Michael Gove to contest the leadership of the Conservative Party.

Michael Gove has declared himself “the candidate for change” as he set out his pitch to become Britain’s Conservative leader and prime minister.

He has pronounced himself incapable of running the country and even offered to sign his lack of ambition for Downing Street in blood, but Michael Gove has found new faith in his own abilities.

British justice minister Michael Gove accused government colleagues of treating voters like children, saying they were trying to scare them into voting to stay in the EU with “new bogeymen every night”.

Michael Gove has made a dramatic return to the top of government as the UK Justice Secretary and Lord Chancellor.