Michael Gove stunned revellers at an Aberdeen nightclub by “raving” on a dancefloor into the early hours.

       The Cabinet Office minister, who was described as “merry” by eyewitnesses, was filmed in a suit flailing his arms, dancing wildly and hugging other clubbers in his home city.

       Those who also attended the club night, called Pipe, said that it appeared Mr Gove, who recently announced he is to divorce from wife Sarah Vine, had visited the venue alone.

       Friends of Mr Gove suggested he had been in Aberdeen to visit family and friends, and loved the city and its nightclub.

       They also said they did not recognise claims that he had attempted to avoid a ￡5 entry fee by citing his official title of Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

       It is claimed that Mr Gove walked into O’Neill’s bar, in the city centre, at around 1:15am on Sunday morning. With the pub about to close, he was persuaded by fellow drinkers to join them at an upstairs nightclub, Bohemia, where he is said to have stayed until at least 2:30am.

       Adam Taylor, the manager of Pipe, told The Daily Record that Mr Gove tried to walk past him without paying the entry fee.

       “He was saying he shouldn’t have to pay because he is the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster,” Mr Taylor said.

       “I told him that my co-manager, Nina Stanger, was upstairs playing Jungle and going hard. Michael said, ‘I love dancing’ – and did he ever.”

       Mr Gove also posed for pictures with several revellers, who appeared to be decades younger than the 54-year-old.

       Emma Lament, a 30-year-old singer, performed an acoustic set earlier in the night at O’Neill’s and said a “merry” Mr Gove had “rocked up” just before closing time and stayed at the nightclub until at least 2:30am. She said she “couldn’t believe what she was seeing”.

       “I’m almost sure he was by himself,” she said. “He really was enjoying himself, I don’t think he left the dance floor the whole time I was there.”