New Health Secretary Sajid Javid ‘will today rule out early lifting of Covid rules on July 5 but he is bullish about July 19 “freedom day”‘ because he is ‘much less nanny-state-ish’ than Matt Hancock

• Sajid Javid is expected to deliver a coronavirus update to MPs this afternoon
• The new Health Secretary is expected to rule out easing the rules early on July 5
• But he is said to be confident of the Government sticking to July 19 ‘freedom day’
• Sources said Mr Javid would be ‘much less nanny-state-ish’ than Matt Hancock 

Sajid Javid will today rule out easing the remaining coronavirus rules early on July 5 but he is bullish about the Government pressing ahead with ‘freedom day’ on July 19. 

The new Health Secretary will deliver a statement to MPs in the House of Commons this afternoon in which he will set out the latest thinking on when rules can be axed.  

Boris Johnson built in a two-week review point when he announced the original four-week delay to the final step of his lockdown exit roadmap. 

But Mr Javid will reportedly say the nation is not yet in a position to return to normal life but hopes are high that will be possible by the July 19 deadline. 

Sources have suggested that Mr Javid’s approach to the pandemic will be radically different to Matt Hancock’s because he is ‘much less nanny-state-ish’ than his predecessor. 

Sajid Javid, the new Health Secretary, will today rule out easing the remaining coronavirus rules early on July 5 but he is said to be bullish about the Government pressing ahead with ‘freedom day’ on July 19

Mr Hancock announced his resignation on Saturday evening, following the leaking of video footage showing him breaking social distancing rules by kissing aide Gina Coladangelo in his ministerial office

Mr Hancock announced his resignation on Saturday evening, following the leaking of video footage showing him breaking social distancing rules by kissing an aide in his ministerial office. 

Mr Javid was rapidly installed as his replacement and he will immediately be thrust into the spotlight this afternoon when he delivers a major coronavirus update. 

Some Tory MPs are pushing for the Government to ease the rules from July 5 due to the ongoing success of the UK’s vaccination drive. 

Mr Javid will tell MPs that July 5 is not possible but he is expected to say he is confident that the July 19 easing will be able to go ahead as planned, according to The Times.

Ministers are hopeful that all remaining rules, including the wearing of face masks, will end on the PM’s ‘terminus date’.   

Coronavirus case numbers continue to rise but hospitalisation numbers remain low, with a source telling the newspaper there is ‘nothing to suggest we can’t go ahead’. 

The source said: ‘[Javid] is someone who has not been keen on the restrictions, someone who sees the economic and social impact. 

‘Saj’s outlook is much less “nanny state-ish”, although I’m sure he will be challenged by scientific and medical advisers.’

Mr Javid was rapidly installed as Mr Hancock’s replacement and he will immediately be thrust into the spotlight this afternoon when he delivers a major coronavirus update to MPs

Mr Hancock was viewed as one of the most cautious figures in the Cabinet when it came to pandemic restrictions. 

But Mr Javid is more hawkish, telling Sky News in an interview last year that ‘we’re going to have to co-exist with this virus for many months, if not years’. 

Mr Javid said yesterday: ‘We are still in a pandemic and I want to see that come to an end as soon as possible and that will be my most immediate priority, to see that we can return to normal as soon and as quickly as possible.’ 

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