Sympathy in short supply as Michael Gove gets stuck in airport chaos for 30 hours

The prominent Brexiteer’s flight was delayed by over a day

Michael Gove found himself stuck in airport chaos as he returned from holiday at the weekend.

The Secretary of State for Levelling Up was trying to make his way from Athens to Gatwick, but found himself in the travel chaos that so many Brits have experienced this summer.

Twitter user and Labour activist Candida Jones shared a picture of Gove in the queue at Athens airport, revealing that the EasyJet flight he was on had been delayed by “almost 30 hours.”

She said this was because of “a lack of staff due to the pandemic compounded, in the case of the UK, by Brexit.”

Almost 30hr delay to our @easyJet flight now. I'm told the problem's a lack of staff due to the pandemic compounded,in the case of the UK, by #Brexit. So it's at least some consolation to find arch Brexiteer @michaelgove caught up in the same shitshow #BrexitChaos #BrexitShambles pic.twitter.com/mYT7oDD1it

— Candida Jones 🇪🇺 (@candidaj) August 14, 2022

Candida also confronted the former education secretary over what opportunities Brexit had provided to her daughter.

When someone asked Candida what the Secretary of State for Levelling Up had to say to justify leaving the EU, she replied: “He thanked me for the opportunity of hearing that my daughter’s opportunities have been diminished by Brexit.”

Oh yes pic.twitter.com/E17UfEZLz9

— Candida Jones 🇪🇺 (@candidaj) August 14, 2022

She told the Mirror that when she confronted him about Brexit he said: “I’m on my holiday and this is not the appropriate place for this conversation.”

She replied: “Yes, and I’m on my holiday and I’ve spent 30 hours trying to get home!”

Unsurprisingly, many enjoyed the schadenfreude of someone who campaigned so passionately for Brexit finally reaping what he sowed.

One person tweeted that it would be the perfect tonic if “anyone needs cheering up,” whilst someone else described the story as “delicious.”

If anyone needs cheering up today Michael Gove's Easyjet flight from Athens was delayed by 30 hours because of Brexit travel chaos.

— Katy (@KatyJayne101) August 15, 2022

Micheal Gove stuck in a Brexit queue is delicious pic.twitter.com/jHBTaKDWJi

— RS Archer (@archer_rs) August 15, 2022

Several wondered whether it was in fact the first “Brexit benefit.”

Can we class Michael Gove being stuck in an airport for 30 hours, a Brexit benefit? It’s the closest I’ve got.

— Craig. (@CraigRussell80) August 16, 2022

Gove’s flight being delayed by 30 hours. Finally , a benefit from Brexit. pic.twitter.com/a9NKFyoSbI

— Brian Tweedale (@BrianHTweed) August 15, 2022

Gove was one of the most prominent Brexiteers in government during the 2016 referendum, and was a co-convenor of the Vote Leave campaign.