Who is new Health Secretary Sajid Javid?
SAJID Javid will replace Matt Hancock as Health Secretary after he was forced to quit over his affair with aide Gina Caladangelo.
Here is what you need to know about the former Home Secretary.
What’s his background?
Sajid Javid, 51, has been the Conservative MP for Bromsgrove since 2010.
On April 30, 2018, he was appointed Home Secretary after Amber Rudd was forced to quit in the wake of the Windrush scandal.
He was the first person from an ethnic minority to hold one of the top four positions in government (the others being Prime Minister, Chancellor of the Exchequer and Foreign Secretary).
On June 26, 2021, Mr Javid was revealed as Matt Hancock’s replacement after the Health Secretary’s affair with Gina Caladangelo forced him to quit, Downing Street announced.
Sajid was born in Rochdale, Lancs, as one of five sons.
His mother and bus driver father had moved here from Pakistan in the 1960s.
The family moved to Bristol, where Sajid went to a state comprehensive before studying economics and politics at the University of Exeter.
Sajid is said to have been a keen Thatcherite since he was a teenager and still has the Iron Lady’s portrait on his wall.
After uni, where he joined the Conservative party, Sajid worked as a banker in New York, London and Singapore.
He was said to be earning £3million a year as a director of Deutsche Bank when he quit in 2009 to pursue a career in politics.
After being elected to Parliament he quickly became a junior Treasury minister in David Cameron’s government.
He has also served as Equalities Minister, Culture Secretary and Business Secretary.
In 2016 the MP launched a “joint ticket” Tory leadership bid with Stephen Crabb, hoping to become Chancellor with Crabb as PM.
Theresa May became leader and made him Communities, Local Government and Housing Secretary, in which post he was criticised for his response to the Grenfell Tower disaster.
Sajid and his wife Laura have four children.
He has received hate mail for marrying a non-Muslim even though he says he does not practise any religion.
What has he said about becoming Health Secretary?
The former Chancellor has said he was “honoured” to replace Matt Hancock as Health Secretary after the MP quit in disgrace over an affair with his aide.
As well as overseeing the Government’s response to Covid-19, he will be tasked with devising reforms to the funding and provision of social care.
Mr Javid tweeted: “Honoured to have been asked to serve as Secretary of State for Health and Social Care at this critical time.
“I look forward to contributing to our fight against the pandemic, and serving my country from the Cabinet once again.”
Former health secretary Jeremy Hunt described Sajid Javid’s appointment to the role as an “excellent choice”.
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What was his stance on Brexit?
Javid backed remaining in the European Union during Brexit and was a member of the Britain Stronger in Europe group.
He supported the single market, saying it was a “great invention, one that even Lady Thatcher campaigned enthusiastically to create.”
However, as a student he opposed Britain joining the European Exchange Rate Mechanism.
Javid has maintained his position that politicians should respect the result of the referendum.
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