Matt Hancock resigns: Sajid Javid vows to get country ‘back to normal’ as he takes over as health secretary – live

Latest updates: Sajid Javid starts new role as health secretary after Matt Hancock resigns after clinch with aide exposed

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2.33pm BST

Sajid Javid, the new health secretary, has just issued a statement through the press office at the Department for Health and Social Care. It echoes what he said in his TV clip earlier. (See 10.58am.) In the new statement he said:

I’m incredibly honoured to take up the post of health and social care secretary, particularly during such an important moment in our recovery from Covid-19. This position comes with a huge responsibility and I will do everything I can to deliver for the people of this great country.

Thanks to the fantastic efforts of our NHS and social care staff who work tirelessly every day, and our phenomenal vaccination programme, we have made enormous progress in the battle against this dreadful disease. I want our country to get out of this pandemic and that will be my most immediate priority.

1.57pm BST

These are from Beth Rigby, Sky’s political editor, on Sajid Javid’s appointment as health secretary.

Few thoughts on @sajidjavid as Health Sec
– Huge, daunting in-tray but PM at least chosen someone with plenty of cabinet experience & who knows how to run a govt dept. Javid a former culture, biz, housing, home Sec.
– Also ex-Chancellor so understands Treasury, close to Sunak 1/

He’ll need the experience. As @tamcohen pointed out, alot of plate
– ST roll-out/Sept boosters/pandemic winter plan (and poss restrictions?)
– Social care: plan promised by end of year. But funding?
– Spending review & dealing with 5m+ on waiting lists. Staff shortages/burnout

On social care, Javid knowledge of prob via times as local gov SoS & CX

Challenge is funding. Sunak wants PM to abandon manifesto tax pledges to deliver plan. PM doesn’t want to

This from 2016 when Javid put sticking plaster on soc care funding crisishttps://t.co/Dx6y5Yd6Xe

On NHS, so many issues for Javid. Former MP & GP @DrPhillipLee tells me in his patch current waiting times for routine outpatient appointments are 10-18 mths; GPs trying to manage frontline without fuelling Covid; long Covid getting more onerous; hospitals not really coping. 4/

On lockdowns/managing Covid, Javid certainly closer to Sunak than Hancock, which many of his colleagues will welcome.

This is from an i/v I did with Javid in May 2020. May well become relevant this winter shld govt have to consider more restrictions > https://t.co/NQw0ujWkY2 pic.twitter.com/SQLuNPaDOW

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