▁second ▁May ▁government ▁as ▁Secretary ▁of ▁State ▁for ▁Environment , ▁Food ▁and ▁R ural ▁Affairs . ▁He ▁has ▁twice ▁run ▁to ▁become ▁Le ader ▁of ▁the ▁Conserv ative ▁Party , ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 6 ▁and ▁ 2 0 1 9 , ▁finishing ▁in ▁third ▁place ▁on ▁both ▁occasions . ▁ ▁G ove ▁began ▁a ▁career ▁as ▁an ▁author ▁and ▁journalist ▁for ▁The ▁Times ▁before ▁entering ▁the ▁House ▁of ▁Commons . ▁He ▁was ▁appointed ▁to ▁the ▁Sh adow ▁Cab inet ▁by ▁David ▁Camer on ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 7 ▁as ▁Sh adow ▁Secretary ▁of ▁State ▁for ▁Children , ▁School s ▁and ▁Famil ies . ▁As ▁Education ▁Secretary , ▁the ▁National ▁Association ▁of ▁Head ▁Te ach ers ▁Association ▁of ▁Te ach ers ▁and ▁L ect ur ers , ▁National ▁Union ▁of ▁Te ach ers ▁and ▁NAS U WT ▁passed ▁mot ions ▁of ▁no ▁confidence ▁in ▁G ove ' s ▁policies ▁at ▁their ▁con ferences ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 3 . ▁▁ ▁In ▁a ▁ 2 0 1 4 ▁Cab inet ▁res h uffle , ▁G ove ▁was ▁moved ▁to ▁the ▁post ▁of ▁Chief ▁Wh ip . ▁Following ▁the ▁ 2 0 1 5 ▁election , ▁G ove ▁was ▁promoted ▁to ▁the ▁office ▁of ▁Justice ▁Secretary ▁and ▁Lord ▁Chan cell or . ▁In ▁ 2 0 1 6 , ▁G ove ▁played ▁a ▁major ▁role ▁in ▁the ▁UK ' s ▁refer endum ▁on ▁EU ▁membership ▁as ▁the ▁co - con ven or ▁of ▁V ote ▁Le ave . ▁Al ong ▁with ▁fellow