New Health Secretary to address remaining restrictions

The newly appointed Health Secretary, Sajid Javid, MP for Bromsgrove, plans to address the nation this afternoon with details on lifting the Government 's remaining Covid restrictions.

Mr Javid 's address follows the resignation of Matt Hancock as Health Secretary. .

Raj Kondola, head of policy at the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, said: “We congratulate Mr Javid on his new appointment at what is a critical time for the country.

“It 's great to see the Midlands-based MP return to the front bench and the new Health Secretary will need to draw upon his considerable Ministerial experience to hit the ground running.

“As a former Business Secretary, I 'm sure Mr Javid will also understand the delicate balancing act required to minimise the spread of the virus whilst also unlocking the wider economy and helping those businesses that desperately need support. ”

After England 's original 'freedom day ' was pushed back from 21 June to the 19 July, Boris Johnson has now suggested that these plans could fall two weeks earlier, should the data comply.

As it stands, figures show that 44 million people across the UK have had their first vaccination and more than 32 million have had their second.

In light of this progress, backbenchers have urged the government to consider a quicker ease of controls which the vaccine rollout intended to achieve.

The Government 's ministerial statement regarding Covid restrictions will take place in the House of Commons at 3:30pm.