Following Sajid Javid's shock resignation, the Government has appointed former Downing Street chief of staff Steve Barclay as health secretary.
Javid resigned yesterday along with chancellor Rishi Sunak over the prime minister's latest round of misleading statements - this time relating to his prior knowledge of sexual misconduct allegations before he appointed deputy chief whip Chris Pincher.
Pincher was suspended by the party last week over allegations that he groped two men in the commons bar.
In his resignation letter, Javid, who held the post for just over a year, said he could "no longer continue in good conscience" under the prime minister, who had "lost his confidence."
Barclay, MP for North East Cambridgeshire, was previously the chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and chief of staff for Downing Street. He was also briefly Minister of State for the Department of Health and Social Care from January to November 2018.
On his appointnment, Barclay said it was an honour to take up the position of Health and Social Care Secretary.
"Our NHS and social care staff have showed us time and again - throughout the pandemic and beyond - what it means to work with compassion and dedication to transform lives.
“This government is investing more than ever before in our NHS and care services to beat the Covid backlogs, recruit 50,000 more nurses, reform social care and ensure patients across the country can access the care they need.”
Responding to Javid's resignation, the Prime Minister's letter said:
"Dear Saj, Thank you for your letter this evening tendering your resignation. I was very sorry to receive it.
"You have served this government, and the people of the United Kingdom, with distinction"
Javid stood for election as leader of the Conservative Party in the 2019 leadership contest, finishing in fourth place. He has previously been culture secretary, local government secretary, home secretary and Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Image: Richard Townshend / https://members-api.parliament.uk/api/Members/4095/Portrait?cropType=Thr...
