His head wobble tells us a lot about him as a person, apparently
Adopting a range of accents and wobbling his head in a bizarre interview about the cost of living crisis, Michael Gove showed he only cares about himself, a body language expert has said.
The Levelling Up Secretary appeared on BBC Breakfast this morning to discuss the crisis – a serious concern which could push 1.3 million of us into absolute poverty.
Viewers were left baffled when Gove put on an American accent and frantically wobbled his head, while ruling out an emergency budget to tackle the worrying rise in costs.
His performance got stranger still as he advised people to “calm down” about soaring food, fuel and energy prices in a faux-Scouse accent.
What the fuck is wrong with Michael Gove? pic.twitter.com/4w1OPQPxxX
— PoliticsJOE (@PoliticsJOE_UK) May 11, 2022
To begin with, Gove claimed the government was “always looking at ideas” to “relieve pressure”, adding: “We’re facing incredibly tough times”.
“But that doesn’t amount to an emergency budget,” he said, wobbling his head while speaking in an odd American drawl.
Great to see Michael Gove launching a ‘don’t take drugs’ campaign on BBC Breakfast this morning.
— Ken Clarke (Parody) (@MrKennethClarke) May 11, 2022
Asked about the issue of housing, for which he is responsible, Gove also admitted the government would fail to meet its target of building 300,000 homes a year – a Tory manifesto pledge.
The interview has sparked outrage, with many accusing Gove of minimising the cost of living crisis. Labour’s Deputy Leader Angela Rayner said: “People need real help, right now. But all this Government can give is a ventriloquist’s dummy.”
Is the cost of living crisis just a joke to them?
This is not a serious Government.
We need an Emergency Budget right now.pic.twitter.com/7bNa3EJiSQ
— Angela Rayner 🌹 (@AngelaRayner) May 11, 2022
Speaking to JOE, body language expert, Bruce Durham, suggested what Gove’s behaviour in the interview could mean.
The way he pitches his voice is apparently key to understanding his “sarcastic, and personal, view on how to help people who may be struggling,” says Bruce.
“Indeed, everything before Gove says ‘that doesn’t mean it’s an emergency budget’ is a pacifying statement. He means none of it.”
Here's Michael Gove mocking people asking for more support during the cost of living crisis.
A report today said 1.5 million households across the UK will struggle to pay food and energy bills over the next year, but this is all a big joke to the Tories.pic.twitter.com/2dxNc9PXOU
— Nadia Whittome MP (@NadiaWhittomeMP) May 11, 2022
Bruce says this is behaviour we all use when we pretend to understand the other person’s perspective before using the word ‘but’. And then we say how we really feel.
“This is what Gove does here,” Bruce explains, “His true feelings are amplified by the universal nonverbal signal of wobbling his head at the same time.
“It’s a sarcastic action that, along with the numerous voices he adopts to explain his position, amplifies his contempt for anything other than his own agenda.”
What is he doing!? Making jokes and using silly voices while families across the country are struggling to survive.
This isn’t a game (or an Oxford Union debate!). People are having to choose between heating and eating.
Take it seriously. Do your job 🙄pic.twitter.com/6Qd5TLdXl4
— Lisa Nandy (@lisanandy) May 11, 2022
The expert says this is known as a “behavioural cluster” – when you have multiple things that non-verbally indicate what the subject is really feeling in that moment.
“It’s a sign of frustration, lack of empathy… just coming from a totally different perspective and it’s boiling over inside Gove’s head,” Bruce says.
“He has an agenda to protect his own back, which comes from protecting his ‘boss’ but not really protecting the people he should be protecting,” the expert adds.
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