As the row over Matt Hancock’s relationship with his married adviser Gina Coladangelo continues to dominate the news, attention in Westminster is turning to what his Cabinet successor will do. Will Sajid Javid’s appointment as Health Secretary lead to a change in the government’s approach to Covid? That’s the question Tory MPs are asking as Javid prepares to make his Commons debut today after accepting the role.
On Sunday, Javid said his most immediate priority would be to return life to normal ‘as quickly as possible’. Of course, wanting a pandemic to end sooner rather than later isn’t a particularly controversial position, but given that Hancock earned a reputation as the chief Cabinet dove on the issue, it already feels as though a shift in tone is underway.
Javid has the potential to tip the balance of the inner Cabinet in favour of a less cautious approach
After quitting as Chancellor early last year, Javid made several Covid interventions from the backbenches.
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