Fears are growing among pro-Leavers that a split between Michael Gove and Boris Johnson could result in the Cabinet balance tipping in favour of a soft Brexit.
Gove and Johnson, who campaigned together for Vote Leave, are at odds over regulatory alignment, with the environment secretary understood to increasingly favour a closer relationship after Brexit.
Johnson set out his own views about the need for managed divergence this week, and while he made clear that regulatory alignment could be maintained in some areas, the foreign secretary stressed that should not mean “we should commit as a matter of treaty that for ever and a day we should be locked in permanent congruence with the EU”.
The pair are due to meet at Theresa May’s hastily arranged Chequers away-day, scheduled for after the Prime Minister returns from Germany, where it is hoped a formal position on Brexit can be thrashed out after last week’s two-day meeting failed to result in a compromise.