Who will replace Matt Hancock as Health Secretary?
HEALTH Secretary Matt Hancock's replacement has been chosen after he resigned over an affair with his aide. It came a day after The Sun revealed images showing Hancock, who is married, and senior aide Gina Coladangelo kissing in an office at the Department of Health. 7 Health Secretary Matt Hancock has resigned  In a resignation letter to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Hancock said the government owed it to people who have sacrificed so much in this pandemic to be honest when we have let them down. He added: "The last thing I would want is for my private life to distract attention from the single-minded focus that is leading up out of this crisis." Johnson said he was sorry to receive Hancocks resignation and that he should leave office very proud of what you have achieved not just in tackling the pandemic, but even before Covid19 struck us." Former Chancellor Sajid Javid will replace Matt Hancock as the country's health minister, Prime Minister Boris Johnson's office said today. Javid resigned as finance minister last year after he refused to fire his political advisers as demanded by Johnson. Previously he'd served as Communities Secretary under Theresa May. Newly appointed Health Secretary Sajid Javid tweeted: "Honoured to have been asked to serve as Secretary of State for Health and Social Care at this critical time. "I look forward to contributing to our fight against the pandemic, and serving my country from the Cabinet once again." A statement from 10 Downing Street said: "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." Grant Shapps  Many saw the 52-year-old as another potential replacement. Boris Johnson appointed Shapps as Transport Secretary in 2019. He defended the Health Secretary after images were published in the Sun of Hancock in what the paper called a clinch with Gina Coladangelo, a government adviser. Shapps said such roles involved significant civil service oversight and declined to comment on the nature of the relationship between Hancock and Coladangelo. Speaking to BBC Radio 4s Martha Kearney, Shapps added: "There has for a long time been a complete difference between what people do in their job and what they do in their personal lives." 7 Grant Shapps defended the Health Secretary yesterday Credit: Rex  Nadhim Zahawi  The vaccine minister was also tipped as the ideal candidate for the job after the success of the jab rollout. This would have involved a minimal shift without having to go through a disruptive full reshuffle. The vaccination drive is the Government's biggest success of the whole pandemic. 7 Vaccine minister Nadhim Zahawi has impressed after the successful jab role out Credit: Reuters  Michael Gove  Leaked texts from Dominic Cummings highlight at one point last year Boris Johnson considered replacing Matt Hancock with Cabinet Minister Michael Gove. Gove, who was elected as an MP for Surrey Heath in 2005, does have experience in office. He became Secretary of State for Education in 2010, Chief Whip in 2014 and Lord Chancellor, Secretary of State for Justice in 2015, before he was dismissed by Theresa May. Following the 2017 General Election he was brought back with his appointment as Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. He is currently Cabinet Office minister. 7 Leaked memos suggest Matt Hancock could be replaced with Cabinet Minister Michael Gove Credit: PA  Jeremy Hunt  Hunt, who was promoted to Health Secretary in 2012, was another possibility. He held the position until 2018, making him the person to have held the job the longest in British political history. During his tenure, he oversaw the imposition of a controversial new junior doctors' contract in England after a dispute in which junior doctors undertook multiple strikes, the first such industrial action for 40 years. He was Foreign Secretary from 2018 to 2019. 7 Could Jeremy Hunt, the longest serving Health Secretary, make a come back to the role Credit: LNP  Most read in News OLD FRIENDS Matt Hancock & Gina Coladangelo pals since UNI before she scored health gig 'JUST UNLUCKY?' Andrew Marr reveals he had 'nasty' Covid bout despite having BOTH vaccines TRAGIC LOSS Singer from 90s metal band Skid Row dies aged 55 after suffering liver failure Latest LOVE NEST Hancock serious about Gina & likely to set up home together' after leaving wife STATE OF AFFAIR Hancock aide was confronted over romance in 2019 but denied affair HORROR FIND Man 'shot dead by cops' after police find body of man & child hurt at home  Priti Patel  She was another potential candidate because she is a high-profile figure in Boris Johnson's cabinet. She was appointed Home Secretary in July 2019. A Eurosceptic, she was a leading figure in the Vote Leave campaign during the EU referendum. She is also known to play hardball. Shortly after taking up the post of home secretary, she said she wanted criminals to "literally feel terror" at the thought of breaking the law. But her time as Home Secretary has not been without controversy. A Cabinet Office inquiry into her conduct found that Ms Patel had "unintentionally" breached the ministerial code in her behaviour towards civil servants. 7 Home Secretary is a key part of Boris Johnson's Cabinet Credit: Rex