Michael Gove tells GMB scotch eggs are a 'starter' not a substantial meal
Michael Gove told Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid that he would consider a scotch egg a starter rather than a substantial meal as the debate around pubs rages on.
Environment Secretary George Eustice said yesterday that a scotch egg would count as a substantial meal meaning pubs could serve alcohol if a customer ordered a scotch egg.
"As far as I'm concerned it's probably a starter," Mr Gove said when Piers asked him a scotch egg was a substantial meal.
"The broader and more serious point is that there are reasonable rules in hospitality in order to keep us all safe and they specify in certain areas when you are in a hospitality setting when you order a drink it needs to be alongside a substantial meal."
Mr Gove went on to say the rules around substantial meals have been in place for years regarding 16 and 17-year-olds being served alcohol as long as they are eating a substantial meal.
However when he was pressed on the definition of what a substantial meal is by the presenters the Cabinet Secretary did not give the wording of what it should be.
"Pubs already know what the rules are and they have for years," Mr Gove said. "I made a jocular remark that my own preference for a substantial meal might be for more than a scotch egg."
Mr Gove went on to tell ITV News' Paul Brand that a scotch egg is actually a substantial meal.