'I was a fool to trust Gove': Boris Johnson told aides he feared a smear campaign unless he quit race after his Brexit betrayer demanded THREE top jobs in Government

A shattered Boris Johnson told his staff he was a 'fool' to have ever trusted Michael Gove, who yesterday announced he would be standing in the race to become Tory leader. Less than two hours after Johnson quit the contest, he sent a text to a friend saying: 'So sorry for being naïve about Gove. Now there'll be a Remain leader.' Some aides urged him to carry on, assuring him he would easily get enough nominations to mount a challenge - but the former Mayor of London insisted it would end in a 'dirty war' between his and Gove's camps.