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Cummings savages the Saj

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Sixth time’s the charm for Sajid Javid who takes up the health brief following Matt Hancock’s resignation. Javid, who has previously run the housing, business, culture, Treasury and home affairs departments, resigned from Boris Johnson’s government in February last year, following a power struggle with No. 10.

The former Deutsche Bank executive quit after being told in a face to face meeting with the Prime Minister to fire all of his advisers at the Treasury and replace them with individuals selected by Johnson’s backroom team, led at the time by one Dominic Cummings. Javid declined and left office, claiming ‘no self-respecting minister would accept those terms’ – terms which, presumably, will not be forced on him in his new found role.

There is therefore a sense of natural justice in some Tory quarters at a well respected ex-minister returning to the fold after standing up for his staff.

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Steerpike

Steerpike is The Spectator's gossip columnist, serving up the latest tittle tattle from Westminster and beyond. Email tips to steerpike@spectator.co.uk or message @MrSteerpike

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