Sajid Javid Promise ‘No Going Back’ As He Prepares To Address Public On When Lockdown Restrictions Will Be Lifted Today
NEW Health Secretary Sajid Javid will today disclose when lockdown will stop - and is anticipated to inform Brits to maintain tight till July 19.
He is possibly to sprint hopes of going early on July 5, however vowed there will be "no going back" after restrictions are eventually ripped up in 4 weeks.
Mr Javid is set to provide his first Commons speech since rejoining the Cabinet at round 5.30pm, with ending Covid curbs his “immediate priority”.
On a visit to St Thomas' Hospital this morning he said: "I want to see the restrictions lifted and life going back to normal as quickly as feasible and that's - right here and now - that is my absolute priority.
"I want to see those restrictions lifted as soon as we can as quickly as possible.
"In terms of the roadmap to that you'll have to wait for my announcement to Parliament later today. It's going be irreversible. There's no going back."
Next Monday - July 5 - is the earliest date when remaining restrictions could be lifted, with the government desiring to provide notice today of any changes.
The former Chancellor is not expected to lift lockdown earlier than the planned date of July 19 - but is reportedly "extremely reluctant" to prolong measures.
Boris Johnson had promised a data review to see if 'Freedom Day' could take place a fortnight earlier.
Speaking outside his new office yesterday, Mr Javid said: “We are still in a pandemic and I want to see that come to an end as quickly as possible.
“That will be my most instantaneous precedence to see that we can return to normal as soon and fast as possible.”
Step four of the government's roadmap out of lockdown was due to see all restrictions lifted on on June 21, however the date was pushed back a month over the spread of the Delta - or Indian - variant.
Mr Javid is seen as a Cabinet Covid "hawk" and has raised concerns over lockdowns and their influence on the economy.
His shamed predecessor Mr Hancock was considered a "dove" who pressed for extra stringent restrictions.
Meanwhile, a source close to Mr Javid told the Telegraph that he would be “extremely reluctant to support an extension” to lockdown measures, adding: “He’ll be looking and seeking to justify ending it as quickly as possible."
Another government source informed the newspaper that the Health Secretary was a “real lockdown skeptic” and that the “tilt in the Cabinet had shifted pretty considerably”.
A Cabinet minister stated Mr Javid's appointment “nails on July 19”.
They added: “I would hope Sajid will look at the data, certainly analyse it and say 'right what is stopping what is stopping us doing July 5’.”
This morning, the PM will chair a Covid Operations Committee meeting anticipated to decide in opposition to early reopening.
As of yesterday 44,314,799 first vaccinations had been dished out and 32,460,191 people had been double jabbed.
But there were 14,876 new cases and 11 new deaths from the deadly virus.