Sajid Javid is greeted by Boris Johnson in 2019. EPA
Sajid Javid is greeted by Boris Johnson in 2019. EPA
Sajid Javid is greeted by Boris Johnson in 2019. EPA
Sajid Javid is greeted by Boris Johnson in 2019. EPA

Sajid Javid: the man stepping in to lead UK’s pandemic battle


Simon Rushton
  • English
  • Arabic

Conservative Party heavyweight Sajid Javid has been named as the UK's new Health Secretary after Matt Hancock was forced to quit the role for breaking Covid rules.

A former chancellor of the exchequer, Mr Javid steps in as the government tries to bring an end to coronavirus restrictions despite a rise in infections fuelled by the Delta variant of the virus.

He returns to the Cabinet more than a year after losing a power struggle with Prime Minister Boris Johnson's former adviser Dominic Cummings, who criticised the government recently.

  • British Prime Minister Boris Johnson looks through a microscope during a visit to a lab at The National Institute for Biological Standards in South Mimms. Getty Images
    British Prime Minister Boris Johnson looks through a microscope during a visit to a lab at The National Institute for Biological Standards in South Mimms. Getty Images
  • People queue outside a mass vaccination centre for those aged 18 and over at the London Stadium. Reuters
    People queue outside a mass vaccination centre for those aged 18 and over at the London Stadium. Reuters
  • People inside the stone circle during Summer Solstice at Stonehenge. The prehistoric monument of ancient stones have been officially closed for the celebrations due to the coronavirus lockdown, but groups of people ignored the lockdown. AP Photo
    People inside the stone circle during Summer Solstice at Stonehenge. The prehistoric monument of ancient stones have been officially closed for the celebrations due to the coronavirus lockdown, but groups of people ignored the lockdown. AP Photo
  • Members of the public walk past shops in Kendal in Cumbria, where surge testing has been deployed following an outbreak of a coronavirus variant of concern. AFP
    Members of the public walk past shops in Kendal in Cumbria, where surge testing has been deployed following an outbreak of a coronavirus variant of concern. AFP
  • A person receives a dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine at a mass vaccination centre at the London Stadium. Reuters
    A person receives a dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine at a mass vaccination centre at the London Stadium. Reuters
  • First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon receives her second dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine at the NHS Louisa Jordan vaccine centre in Glasgow. AP Photo
    First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon receives her second dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine at the NHS Louisa Jordan vaccine centre in Glasgow. AP Photo
  • Anti-vaccine protestors gather outside a mass vaccination centre at the London Stadium. Reuters
    Anti-vaccine protestors gather outside a mass vaccination centre at the London Stadium. Reuters
  • Members of the public queue to enter a temporary Covid-19 testing centre set up a car park in Kendal in Cumbria. AFP
    Members of the public queue to enter a temporary Covid-19 testing centre set up a car park in Kendal in Cumbria. AFP
  • Medical staff work inside the mass vaccination centre at the London Stadium. Reuters
    Medical staff work inside the mass vaccination centre at the London Stadium. Reuters
  • A person receives a dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, in London. Reuters
    A person receives a dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, in London. Reuters
  • People enter a Covid-19 vaccination centre in London. EPA
    People enter a Covid-19 vaccination centre in London. EPA

Mr Javid was one of the contenders for the Conservative leadership in 2019. That contest  was eventually won by Mr Johnson.

He subsequently became chancellor, the UK equivalent of finance minister, but resigned last year after a clash with Mr Johnson over the hiring of departmental aides.

Mr Javid said he had no option but to resign after he was ordered to replace his political advisers.

"I was unable to accept those conditions. I don't believe any self-respecting minister would accept such conditions," he said.

It followed reports of clashes between Mr Javid and Mr Cummings, who was then Mr Johnson's top adviser.

Mr Cummings was himself ousted in November amid a power struggle in the Prime Minister's Downing Street office, which was rumoured to involve Mr Johnson's wife, Carrie Johnson.

Mr Cummings suggested on Saturday that Mrs Johnson was behind Mr Javid's return to the government.

He claimed that he had "tricked" Mr Johnson into removing Mr Javid, whom he described as "bog standard" and "awful" for the National Health Service.

Mr Javid said his top priority now was to bring about a "return to normal" in the UK.

"We are still in a pandemic and I want to see that come to an end as soon as possible," he said.

High-flying family 

Mr Javid’s Pakistani parents arrived in the UK in 1961, where his father worked as a bus driver in Rotherham, northern England before setting up his clothing business, Scallywags, in Bristol.

The middle sibling of five children, he acknowledges his Muslim heritage but does not practise a religion.

His brother Basit is deputy assistant commissioner at London’s Metropolitan Police; Atif is a property entrepreneur and Khalid is the founder of property finance firm Blackstone Financial Solutions.

The eldest brother Tariq, 52, was found dead in a Sussex hotel in 2018 having taken his own life. Tariq had been a successful retail entrepreneur.

Mr Javid has spoken of his personal memories of racial abuse as a child.

He graduated from the University of Exeter with a degree in economics and politics in 1991 as the first of his family to attend university.

He had a successful career in the upper echelons of the financial sector, starting with a spell at New York’s Chase Manhattan bank.

On his return to Britain, he worked at Deutsche Bank International, rising to the board of directors.

He was elected MP for Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, in 2010. He is married and has four children.

'The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window'

Director:Michael Lehmann

Stars:Kristen Bell

Rating: 1/5

Company%20profile
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Real estate tokenisation project

Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.

The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.

Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.

Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
ANDROID%20VERSION%20NAMES%2C%20IN%20ORDER
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Zidane's managerial achievements

La Liga: 2016/17
Spanish Super Cup: 2017
Uefa Champions League: 2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18
Uefa Super Cup: 2016, 2017
Fifa Club World Cup: 2016, 2017

Specs

Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request

The bio

Favourite book: Peter Rabbit. I used to read it to my three children and still read it myself. If I am feeling down it brings back good memories.

Best thing about your job: Getting to help people. My mum always told me never to pass up an opportunity to do a good deed.

Best part of life in the UAE: The weather. The constant sunshine is amazing and there is always something to do, you have so many options when it comes to how to spend your day.

Favourite holiday destination: Malaysia. I went there for my honeymoon and ended up volunteering to teach local children for a few hours each day. It is such a special place and I plan to retire there one day.

ESSENTIALS

The flights 
Fly Etihad or Emirates from the UAE to Moscow from 2,763 return per person return including taxes. 
Where to stay 
Trips on the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian cost from US$16,995 (Dh62,414) per person, based on two sharing.

Banned items
Dubai Police has also issued a list of banned items at the ground on Sunday. These include:
  • Drones
  • Animals
  • Fireworks/ flares
  • Radios or power banks
  • Laser pointers
  • Glass
  • Selfie sticks/ umbrellas
  • Sharp objects
  • Political flags or banners
  • Bikes, skateboards or scooters
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW

Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman

Director: Jesse Armstrong

Rating: 3.5/5