Is Environment Secretary Michael Gove really like his Game of Thrones 'soulmate' Tyrion Lannister?
Both are brutal, sharp-tongued and like power - but is the environment secretary really similar to the Westeros character?
Wednesday 21 November 2018 15:44, UK
Michael Gove has revealed Tyrion Lannister is his Game of Thrones "soulmate" - but is the environment secretary offering a deeper message now that Westminster has come to represent Westeros?
After completing an internet personality quiz, Mr Gove posted the results on Twitter to reveal which fantasy figure he is most like.
It prompted suggestions Mr Gove was sending a political signal amid continuing Brexit tensions; or perhaps that he just has too much time on his hands for a government minister on a Wednesday morning.
Last week, the top Brexiteer's future in government was the subject of much speculation, with Mr Gove said to be considering resigning from cabinet in protest at Theresa May's draft Brexit deal.
After turning down an offer to be the new Brexit secretary, Mr Gove was understood to have resolved to remain in the cabinet in order to try and change the prime minister's plans from within government.
His actions renewed thoughts of Mr Gove positioning himself as a potential replacement for Mrs May, perhaps with a new reputation as a loyalist who tried his best to make the prime minister's Brexit deal work.
No doubt, his decision not to quit cabinet will have been noted by Tory MPs fearful of the imminent collapse of the government if he'd resigned.
So, is Mr Gove sending a message to the prime minister about his scheming and ruthlessness? Is the Surrey Heath MP actually like Tyrion? Or, is he meeker than the hard-drinking, womanising dwarf?
YES, HE'S BRUTAL
In Game of Thrones, after finding his lover in his father's bed, Tyrion strangles her to death before killing his father with a crossbow bolt.
Boris Johnson might sympathise, having been "knifed" by Mr Gove during the 2016 Tory leadership contest.
YES, HE'S A GREAT SURVIVOR
Tyrion escapes both being imprisoned when he was facing execution, and also being rescued after being captured by slavers.
Mr Gove has survived being demoted as an unpopular education secretary, as well as being sacked as justice secretary in 2016, to return to the top level of UK politics.
YES, HE LIKES TO GET CLOSE TO POWER
Tyrion holds the role of "Hand of the King" in early episodes of Game of Thrones, while he later allies himself to Daenerys Targaryen as she launches her bid to claim the Iron Throne.
In his brief exile from government after the EU referendum, Mr Gove interviewed Donald Trump for The Times newspaper, during which he posed for a "thumbs up" photo with the new US president.
YES, HE HAS A SHARP TONGUE
Tyrion is one of the more intellectual characters in Game of Thrones with a dark sense of humour.
Last year, Mr Gove was forced to apologise after attempting to make a joke referencing disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein.
NO, HE'S ACTUALLY LITTLEFINGER
As many Twitter users pointed out, Mr Gove might actually be more like Petyr Baelish, the scheming and ruthless Game of Thrones character nicknamed "Littlefinger".
Although, this might not come of much comfort to Mrs May either...
Mr Gove has previously revealed Tyrion is his favourite character in Game of Thrones.
His enthusiasm for the Sky Atlantic show has also notably been used against him, when Mr Gove ditched his support for Boris Johnson in the 2016 Tory leadership contest in order to launch his own bid to become prime minister.
At the time Ben Wallace, an ally of Mr Johnson, said of Mr Gove: "He is actually Theon Greyjoy or will be by the time I am finished with him."
In one of Game of Thrones' more brutal scenes, Theon is castrated while being tortured.
Mr Gove spoke of his enthusiasm for Game of Thrones in a slightly bizarre YouTube video filmed in the garden of commentator James Delingpole in 2014.
At the time, Mr Gove was David Cameron's chief whip, having been removed from the role of education secretary due to his unpopularity with teachers.
"My favourite character in Game of Thrones is undoubtedly Tyrion Lannister," Mr Gove declared.
"The moment I love most is when he leads what's apparently a hopeless charge of his troops in defence of King's Landing against the forces of Stannis Baratheon.
"You see there that this misshapen dwarf, reviled throughout his life, thought in the eyes of some to be a toxic figure, can at last rally a small band of loyal followers.
"At the last moment, he suddenly hears the noise of the relief column coming and it's his father - a father with whom he has the most complicated of relationships - who then comes at the head of a relief army in order to defeat the Baratheon forces.
"At that point I'm reminded of the words of Winston Churchill: Never, never, never surrender."