Boris Johnson confirms early easing of Covid rules on July 5 is off but insists it is 'looking set fair' for 'freedom day' on July 19 after new Health Secretary Sajid Javid claims there will be 'no going back' once curbs are removed

Boris Johnson today appeared to confirm that coronavirus rules will not be eased early on July 5 but insisted it is 'looking set fair' for 'freedom day' to go ahead on July 19. 

The Prime Minister said he wanted to 'use the next three weeks or so really to complete as much as we can' of the vaccine rollout to boost the nation's defences against the disease.

Mr Johnson said 'with every day that goes by' it is clearer to him and his scientific experts that 'we’re very likely to be in a position on July 19 to say that really is the terminus and we can go back to life as it was before Covid as far as possible'.

His comments came after a bullish Sajid Javid promised there will be no return of coronavirus rules after 'freedom day' as he claimed 'there is no going back'. 

The new Health Secretary said his 'absolute priority' is to get life back to normal 'as quickly as possible' and that the easing of restrictions will be 'irreversible'. 

Mr Javid is due to deliver an update to MPs this afternoon on the Government's plans for loosening curbs. 

He is expected to confirm that the remaining rules will not be lifted on July 5 but he will reportedly say he is confident about the Government pressing ahead on July 19. 

Mr Johnson built in a two-week review point when he announced the original four-week delay to the final step of his lockdown exit roadmap. 

But Mr Javid will reportedly say the nation is not yet in a position to return to normal life but hopes are high that will be possible by the July 19 deadline. 

Sources have suggested that Mr Javid's approach to the pandemic will be radically different to Matt Hancock's because he is 'much less nanny-state-ish' than his predecessor. 

Boris Johnson today appeared to confirm that coronavirus rules will not be eased early on July 5 but insisted it is 'looking set fair' for 'freedom day' to go ahead on July 19

A bullish Sajid Javid today promised there will be no return of coronavirus rules after 'freedom day' as he insisted 'there is no going back'. He is pictured visiting St Thomas' Hospital this morning

Mr Hancock announced his resignation on Saturday evening, following the leaking of video footage showing him breaking social distancing rules by kissing aide Gina Coladangelo in his ministerial office

Mr Hancock announced his resignation on Saturday evening, following the leaking of video footage showing him breaking social distancing rules by kissing an aide in his ministerial office. 

Mr Javid was rapidly installed as his replacement and he will immediately be thrust into the spotlight this afternoon when he delivers a major coronavirus update in the House of Commons. 

Speaking during a visit to St Thomas' Hospital in central London this morning, Mr Javid said: ‘I want to see the restrictions lifted and life going back to normal as quickly as possible and 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 will have to wait for my statement to Parliament later today.’ 

Told that Mr Johnson had previously said the ambition is to ensure the easing of rules in 'irreversible', Mr Javid replied: ‘It is going to be irreversible. There is no going back and that is why we want to be careful during that process and I’ll have more to say about this during my statement.’

Speaking during a campaign visit to Batley, Mr Johnson later appeared to confirm that the July 5 date is off the table as he said he wanted the vaccine drive to be given more time. 

He said: 'Although there are some encouraging signs and the number of deaths remains low and the number of hospitalisations remains low, though both are going up a bit, we are seeing an increase in cases.

'So we think it’s sensible to stick to our plan to have a cautious but irreversible approach, use the next three weeks or so really to complete as much as we can of that vaccine rollout – another five million jabs we can get into people’s arms by July 19.

'And then with every day that goes by it’s clearer to me and all our scientific advisers that we’re very likely to be in a position on July 19 to say that really is the terminus and we can go back to life as it was before Covid as far as possible.' 

Mr Johnson added: 'You will be hearing a statement from Sajid Javid in the House later on this afternoon about where we are in the pandemic, the steps that we are going to be taking. I think we are looking set fair for July 19.'

Some Tory MPs have been pushing for the Government to ease the remaining rules from July 5 due to the ongoing success of the UK's vaccination rollout. 

Mr Javid will tell MPs that July 5 is not possible but he is expected to say he is confident that the July 19 easing will be able to go ahead as planned, according to The Times.

Ministers are hopeful that all remaining rules, including the wearing of face masks, will end on the PM's 'terminus date'.   

Coronavirus case numbers continue to rise but hospitalisation numbers remain low, with a source telling the newspaper there is 'nothing to suggest we can't go ahead'. 

The source said: ' is someone who has not been keen on the restrictions, someone who sees the economic and social impact. 

'Saj's outlook is much less "nanny state-ish", although I'm sure he will be challenged by scientific and medical advisers.'

Mr Javid was rapidly installed as Mr Hancock's replacement and he will immediately be thrust into the spotlight this afternoon when he delivers a major coronavirus update to MPs

Mr Hancock was viewed as one of the most cautious figures in the Cabinet when it came to pandemic restrictions. 

But Mr Javid is more hawkish, telling Sky News in an interview last year that 'we're going to have to co-exist with this virus for many months, if not years'. 

Salma Shah, a former special adviser to Mr Javid, said yesterday that his appointment will change the dynamic in the Cabinet. 

She said: 'I think the immediate thing you're going to see is a change in complexion around the cabinet table. 

'I don't imagine his caution will be diminished ... but I think his view could be defined as a lot more liberal when it comes to the pandemic. 

'I think we will see a nuance shift in the opposite direction from where Matt Hancock was.'

Mr Javid said yesterday: 'We are still in a pandemic and I want to see that come to an end as soon as possible and that will be my most immediate priority, to see that we can return to normal as soon and as quickly as possible.'