Amol Rajan: Even Corbynites might have to accept that Michael Gove is talking sense

Ideology is an enemy of reason and truth but much of what happens in politics — for good and for bad — originates with it. Conservatives are meant to eschew ideology, thinking it belongs to a domain of theory and nonsense far removed from the practical wisdom and felt experience that is the best guide to true knowledge. Their approach to politics mobilises a particular disposition, a spirit or attitude, that wishes to stand athwart history, yelling “Stop!”

And yet to the extent that ideology is a way of thinking that aims at power, and provides zeal and weaponry in political combat, no Tory who really wants to get things done can live without it. “But there’s so much to do” was Mrs Thatcher’s constant refrain. She was an ideologue, who stood afore history, yelling “Go!” So does Michael Gove.

The aggressively polite Justice Secretary was sacked from his previous job at Education because he was too effective. He took on teachers, annoyed them and accelerated school reform. For this he was punished by his close friend and boss, the Prime Minister. That was long after he became a hate figure for the Left, with his proud adoption of neoconservatism ahead of the Iraq War and willingness to antagonise the teaching unions.

To a much greater extent than members of the political class will ever admit, we interpret events according to long-held prejudices and biases. Gove is an instinctive repellent to many Labour folk and, I imagine, those who voted for Jeremy Corbyn. But if it had been Corbyn who delivered the speech that Gove gave at the Tory party conference this week, I suspect they would have upheld it as a model of compassion, decency and liberal values.