Charles Moore puts Michael Gove’s ‘jazzy’ ringtone to the test

Ever since Michael Gove was scolded at Cabinet for bringing his noisy mobile phone into the room, everyone’s been trying to find out what the ringtone is. Cabinet sources various described it to The Times as a ‘female ballad’ and a ‘Jazz FM-style comedown music after a heavy night out’. But the Chief Whip is refusing to reveal what the tune is.

Last night Gove spoke at a Westminster dinner, and started his speech by announcing he was putting his mobile phone on silent. He then said that the ringtone would remain secret until someone worked out how to use the Freedom of Information Act to secure its identity.

But then the former Education Secretary looked rather confused, and clutched at his pocket. Charles Moore, who was sitting in the audience, was trying to call him in the hope that the silent button wasn’t working.

‘You can take the man out of the newsroom, but you can’t take the newsroom out of the man,’ joked Gove, ruefully.