Sajid Javid has been named Britain’s new health secretary after Matt Hancock was forced to resign on Saturday following revelations he broke coronavirus rules by kissing his aide.
“The Queen has been pleased to approve the appointment of the Rt Hon Sajid Javid MP as Secretary of State for Health and Social Care,” a short press release from the government read on Saturday.
Javid, the former chancellor of the exchequer and home secretary, said he was “honoured” by the appointment.
Hancock, who led Britain’s response to the pandemic, particularly the nationwide vaccine rollout, quit in a letter to Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
“We owe it to people who have sacrificed so much in this pandemic to be honest when we have let them down as I have done by breaching the guidance,” he wrote.
“The last thing I would want is for my private life to distract attention from the single-minded focus that is leading us out of this crisis.”
Johnson said he was sorry to receive Hancock’s resignation, and that he should be “immensely proud” of his service.
Government accused of hypocrisy
Johnson, who has faced down criticism of various scandals including funding of the refurbishment of his apartment in Downing Street, had initially stood by his health secretary after Hancock admitted breaking COVID social distancing rules, when at the same time he was urging the public to stick by the measures.  (Aljazeera)