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Nearly three years too late with this, Govey, and we see you. The time to say this was 24 June 2016 before the jubilant Brexiters, Daily Mail, etc succeeded in promoting the idea that post EUref it was now anti-democratic to continue arguing that Leaving the EU was a bad idea. 
Oh, I’ve just realised: this isn’t *at all* about the fact that Remain views were suppressed by a bullying Leave media-political establishment immediately after EUref.
It’s about Boris Johnson, & is purely calculated to make him look magnanimous and statesmanlike by appearing to sound supportive of a rival....
...while also dogwhistling to the self-defined “pro-free-speech” so-called libertarians, who see themselves as unjustly persecuted victims of political correctness (“you can’t speak your mind any more”): a group making up a sizeable chunk of the voter base that he is pursuing.
Anyway, back to my original point: I don’t remember Michael Gove saying “Whatever view you take on Brexit, we must not try to close down debate. Contending opinions and vigorous argument are the essence of democracy” on 24 June 2016 (before Brexit got into trouble).
