Friends of Michael Gove and wife Sarah Vine speak of their sadness at couple’s split

Friends of Michael Gove and his wife Sarah Vine last night spoke of their sadness at the announcement that they are divorcing after almost 20 years of marriage.

In a statement issued on their behalf on Friday, the couple said they were ‘in the process of finalising their divorce’ and ‘will continue to support their two children and…remain close friends’.

A source said they had ‘drifted apart’ and ‘there is no one else involved’.

Former Tory MP and Minister Nick Boles, who has known them both for more than 20 years, said: ‘One of the things that I admire them for in a sad situation is not having lost their admiration for each other and affection for each other. The line about them still being friends is true.’

Dismissing an uncorroborated report in one newspaper questioning the Cabinet Office Minister’s adherence to social distancing rules, Mr Boles added: ‘I know for a fact that nobody else is involved as I know both of them extremely well. I know for a fact they have still all been living as a family in the same house.

‘So all of this nonsense that he had moved out, or other people, is just rubbish. It’s sad enough as it is, without people adding malicious rumour based on nothing.’ Mr Gove, 53, and Ms Vine, 54, who is a columnist for The Mail on Sunday, married in 2001 and have two children.

The announcement of their split came a week after Matt Hancock left his wife after his affair with aide Gina Coladangelo was exposed.

Having entered the Cabinet in 2010 as Education Secretary, Mr Gove has served in a series of high-profile roles.

Acknowledging the strains that high office could put on a marriage, Mr Boles said: ‘My experience was never at that level but I think the pressure becomes greater the more senior and the more of a public figure you become.’