‘Hallelujah!’ Tory MP heckles Javid on end of social distancing

As July 19 looms ever closer and the football appears to be (finally) coming home, it appears that not even Tory MPs are exempt from experiencing the feel good factor. There was a boisterous mood in the Commons today as parliamentarians returned to hear the newly appointed Health Secretary read the last rites for the two metre rule after 16 months of Covid guidelines. 

The usually composed Javid even broke into a smile after one spontaneous heckle. Declaring to the House that ‘We will revoke all social distancing guidance including the two metre rule – except, for some specific–’ the minister was briefly interrupted when one (unknown) Conservative backbencher cried out ‘Hallelujah!’ in relief at the end of such restrictions, prompting chuckles to echo around the chamber.

A second ‘Hallelujah’ rang out moments later when Javid declared that singing will be able to resume again in churches – a rare instance of songs of praise ringing out for a Tory Health Secretary after the decline and fall of Hancock’s ancien régime.