Junior ministerial offices

Financial Secretary to the Treasury
In office 7 October 2013 – 9 April 2014
Prime Minister	David Cameron
Preceded by	Greg Clark
Succeeded by	Nicky Morgan
Economic Secretary to the Treasury
In office 4 September 2012 – 7 October 2013
Prime Minister	David Cameron
Preceded by	Chloe Smith
Succeeded by	Nicky Morgan

Member of Parliament
for Bromsgrove

In office
6 May 2010 – 30 May 2024

Preceded by

Julie Kirkbride

Succeeded by

Bradley Thomas

Personal details

Born

5 December 1969 (age 55)
Rochdale, Lancashire, England

Political party

Conservative

Spouse

Laura King

(m. 1997)

Children

Residences

Bristol, England
Chelsea, London
Fulham, London

Education

Downend School
Filton College

Alma mater

University of Exeter (BA)

Occupation

Politician
economist
former banker

Signature

Sir Sajid Javid (born 5 December 1969) is a British politician who used to be a Member of Parliament (MP). He served in important government jobs, like Secretary of State for Health and Social Care from 2021 to 2022. Before that, he was Home Secretary from 2018 to 2019 and Chancellor of the Exchequer from 2019 to 2020. He was a member of the Conservative Party. He represented Bromsgrove in Parliament from 2010 to 2024.

Sajid Javid was born in Rochdale, England, to a family from Pakistan. He grew up mostly in Bristol. He studied Economics and Politics at the University of Exeter. While at university, he joined the Conservative Party. Before becoming a politician, he worked in banking and became a managing director at Deutsche Bank. He was first elected to the House of Commons in May 2010.

Under Prime Minister David Cameron, he was a junior minister in the Treasury. He then joined Cameron's Cabinet as Culture Secretary. After the 2015 election, he became Business Secretary. Javid supported the UK staying in the European Union during the 2016 referendum. After the UK voted to leave, he served under Prime Minister Theresa May. He was Communities Secretary from 2016 to 2018. When Amber Rudd resigned, Javid became Home Secretary. He was the first British Asian and first Muslim to hold one of the UK's most important government jobs.

After Theresa May resigned, Javid tried to become the leader of the Conservative Party in 2019. He finished in fourth place. The new Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, made him Chancellor of the Exchequer. Javid resigned as Chancellor in 2020. This happened after he refused to fire his team of advisers. Rishi Sunak took over his role. In June 2021, he became Health Secretary again under Boris Johnson. He played a big part in the UK's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. He supported ending most public health rules, like face mask rules. He also helped expand the COVID-19 vaccination program.

Javid resigned as Health Secretary in July 2022. He was the first of many Conservative MPs to resign during a government crisis. This crisis led to Boris Johnson's own resignation. Javid did not stand for re-election as an MP in 2024. He was given the title Knight Bachelor in 2024 for his public service.

Early Life and Education

Sajid Javid was born on 5 December 1969 in Rochdale, England. He was one of five sons. His parents were immigrants from Pakistan. His family were farmers who moved to the UK in the 1960s. His father worked as a bus driver. His mother learned English after being in the UK for ten years. The family moved to Bristol and lived above a shop that his parents took over. Javid can speak some Punjabi. He was raised in an Islamic family, but he does not practice any religion now.

As a teenager, Javid became interested in financial markets. He liked how the government was selling off state-owned companies. He says that when he was 14, he borrowed £500 from a bank. He used this money to invest in shares. He also started reading the Financial Times regularly.

Javid went to Downend School in Bristol from 1981 to 1986. At school, he was told he should become a TV repairman. He also said he was told he could not study maths at O Level. His father had to pay for him to study it. He later attended Filton Technical College from 1986 to 1988. He then went to the University of Exeter from 1988 to 1991. He earned a degree in economics and politics.

Javid was a trustee for a children's charity and a governor for a school. He also climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania to support Help the Aged.

Early Political Activities

Javid joined the Conservative Party while at university. In 1990, when he was 20, he went to his first Conservative Party Conference. He campaigned against the government's decision to join the European Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM). He met TV presenter Jeremy Paxman while handing out leaflets against the policy.

From 1992 to 1996, he lived in New York City. He became the youngest Vice-President at Chase Manhattan Bank. During this time, he also helped Rudy Giuliani's campaign to become the mayor of New York in 1993.

Banking Career

Sajid Javid worked in the financial world for 18 years. He became a board member at Deutsche Bank International. After university, he joined Chase Manhattan Bank in New York City. He worked mainly in Latin America. At 25, he became a vice president. He returned to London in 1997. In 2000, he joined Deutsche Bank as a director. By 2004, he was a managing director. The next year, he became the global head of Emerging Markets Structuring. He also advised Lufthansa in Germany.

In 2007, he moved to Singapore. There, he led Deutsche Bank's credit trading and other businesses in Asia. He also became a board member of Deutsche Bank International Limited. He left Deutsche Bank in 2009 to start his career in politics. It was thought that he earned about £3 million a year when he left the bank.

Political Career

Becoming a Member of Parliament

On 28 May 2009, the MP for Bromsgrove, Julie Kirkbride, announced she would step down. This was due to an expenses scandal. Javid was chosen as the Conservative Party candidate for Bromsgrove on 6 February 2010. He won the seat in the 2010 general election with 22,558 votes. This gave him a majority of 11,308 votes.

In the 2019 general election, Javid won again. He received 34,408 votes, increasing his majority to 23,106.

Being Recognized in Politics

Many people noticed Javid's quick rise in politics. Former Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said that MPs elected in 2010 were "the best new MPs for over thirty years." He named Javid as one of the Conservative MPs who had "already made an impact." Javid was also called the "Newcomer of 2010" by a political blog.

In 2012, Iain Dale listed Javid as one of the "Top 100 most influential figures from the Right." He noted Javid's fast rise into George Osborne's inner circle. In 2014, The Times ranked Javid as No. 8 on its right-wing power list. They said he was the "senior member of the 2010 intake."

In 2014, then-Prime Minister David Cameron called Javid "the brilliant Asian man who I asked to join the Cabinet." He also said, "I want to hear that title 'Prime Minister' followed by a British Asian name." In 2015, Javid won the Politician of the Year award at the British Muslim Awards.

Culture Secretary

On 9 April 2014, David Cameron appointed Javid to the Cabinet. He became Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport and Minister for Equalities. This made him the first MP elected in 2010 to join the Cabinet. He was also the first British Pakistani MP to lead a government department. Soon after, he became a Privy Councillor.

As Culture Secretary, Javid supported media freedom. He believed the press should be able to investigate wrongdoing by politicians. He said, "The media are a cornerstone of our democracy." He also spoke about the importance of diversity and free expression in culture.

In 2015, Javid said that cultural groups that boycott Israel might lose government funding. He made it clear that he would not tolerate such boycotts.

Business Secretary

After the 2015 general election, Javid became Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills. He was part of the new Conservative government under Prime Minister David Cameron.

As Business Secretary, Javid announced changes to strike laws. He said that strikes affecting important public services would need more support from union members. Javid believed the UK should stay in the European Union. He wrote that Britain was "better off in" because of the Single Market.

Communities Secretary

Queen Rania of Jordan and Javid, at Supporting Syria and the Region conference, 2016

In July 2016, Prime Minister Theresa May appointed Javid as Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. In this role, he focused on increasing housing. This included building new affordable and council homes. He had previously called council homes "poor housing for the poor." However, he helped get money for new local council building in 2017.

In 2017, Javid considered canceling a large Palestine convention. His department controlled the venue. This was after groups claimed the organizers had praised Hamas.

As Communities Secretary, Javid started reforms for leasehold and commonhold properties. He aimed to stop unfair practices by property managers. He also worked to end "feudal" leasehold practices. This included banning future leasehold houses and setting ground rents to zero.

Home Secretary

On 30 April 2018, Javid became Home Secretary. He took over after Amber Rudd resigned. Javid said he wanted to fix problems from the Windrush scandal. He was the first person from an Asian background to hold this important job in the UK. In his first months, he made changes to immigration rules. He lifted the cap on immigration for NHS doctors and nurses.

Immigration Policies

Javid argued against EU citizens having special rights to live and work in the UK after Brexit. He believed that being a "global Britain" meant welcoming people from all over the world. He said that EU citizens who had lived in the UK for at least five years could get a new "settled status."

Javid also helped a child chess prodigy, Shreyas Royal, stay in the UK. He personally stepped in because of the child's "exceptional talent." This is very rare in immigration cases. Javid also planned to limit the number of low-skilled migrants coming to the UK after Brexit.

Asylum and Citizenship Decisions

In January 2019, Javid questioned if asylum-seekers crossing the English Channel were "genuine." He said the UK would try to make sure they were "often not successful." Groups like the Refugee Council and Amnesty International said this went against international law.

In February 2019, Javid said that British citizens who joined ISIS would not be allowed back into the UK. He took away the British citizenship of Shamima Begum, a 19-year-old who joined ISIS in 2015. He said she had Bangladeshi citizenship, but she and Bangladesh denied this. This decision was popular in the UK. However, some people, including human rights lawyers, criticized him.

Security Measures

In February 2019, Javid added Hezbollah's political wing to the UK's list of banned terror groups. He also spoke at a Conservative Friends of Israel Conference in 2018. He said he wanted to make the partnership between the UK and Israel stronger, especially in security.

In 2019, Javid announced more money for the security of synagogues, schools, and other Jewish centers. This brought the total allocated to the Jewish Community Protective Security Grant to £65.2 million since 2015. After the Christchurch mosque shootings, Javid warned social media companies. He said they would face legal action if they did not remove extremist content.

Chancellor of the Exchequer

Javid in the Treasury after being appointed chancellor

On 24 July 2019, Javid became Chancellor of the Exchequer in Boris Johnson's new cabinet. He said he would prepare the UK for leaving the EU. He promised "significant extra funding" to get Britain ready for Brexit, with or without a deal.

In September 2019, Javid supported Johnson's plan to suspend Parliament and leave the EU. He confirmed that the UK would leave the EU by 31 October. On 26 January 2020, a 50p coin was made to mark Brexit. It had the words 'Peace, prosperity and friendship with all nations' and the leaving date of 31 January.

Resignation as Chancellor

There were disagreements between 10 Downing Street and the Treasury. In August 2019, Boris Johnson's chief adviser, Dominic Cummings, fired one of Javid's aides without his permission. Javid was very angry about this. In November 2019, Johnson promised to keep Javid as Chancellor after the 2019 election.

However, on 13 February 2020, Javid resigned as Chancellor. This happened after a meeting with the Prime Minister. Johnson offered to let him keep his job only if he fired all his advisers. They would be replaced by people chosen by Number 10. Javid told the media that "no self-respecting minister would accept those terms."

Javid's resignation was unexpected. He became the first Chancellor in 50 years not to deliver a budget. His time as Chancellor, 204 days, was one of the shortest since World War II.

Return to Being a Backbench MP

After resigning as Chancellor, Javid returned to being a backbench MP. This means he was a regular MP, not in the government. He said he felt he still had "more to give" in politics. In June 2020, Javid announced he would work with the Centre for Social Justice think tank. He also became a senior fellow at Harvard University's Harvard Kennedy School in 2020–2021.

In August 2020, Javid took a paid job as a senior adviser to JPMorgan Chase. He joined the bank's advisory council for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Some people criticized this, saying MPs should not have second jobs.

Health Secretary Again

Javid's cabinet portrait, September 2021

Javid became Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on 26 June 2021. This was during the COVID-19 pandemic. He took over from Matt Hancock.

Javid played a key role in the government's response to the pandemic. He pushed for an end to public health rules. He said, "We are going to have to learn to accept the existence of COVID." He also said the country could have "100,000 daily cases" but there was "no going back" to restrictions.

On 17 July 2021, Javid tested positive for COVID-19. He recovered eight days later. He was criticized for saying "if you haven't yet – get your jab, as we learn to live with, rather than cower from, this virus." Javid later deleted the tweet and apologized for the word "cower."

In September 2021, Javid announced a plan to make COVID-19 vaccines available for 12- to 15-year-olds. This was despite some advice not to. He also planned to make vaccines required for all NHS and care home staff.

Resignation from Health Secretary Role

Javid (left) and Rishi Sunak (right) (the first two cabinet members to resign on 5 July) pictured with Boris Johnson (centre)

Javid resigned as Health Secretary on 5 July 2022. He said he had given Boris Johnson the benefit of the doubt. However, he decided to resign after thinking about integrity in public life. In his resignation letter, Javid said: "The tone you set as a leader... reflect[s] on your colleagues, your party and ultimately the country." He added that the public saw the Conservatives as "neither" competent nor guided by strong values anymore.

On 6 July 2022, Javid spoke in the House of Commons. He called on other colleagues to resign from the cabinet. He said "enough is enough" and that "loyalty must go both ways." His resignation was the first of many that led to Boris Johnson's own resignation.

After Leaving the Cabinet

Javid supported Liz Truss in the July–September 2022 Conservative Party leadership election. He then supported Rishi Sunak in the October 2022 election. In December 2022, Javid announced he would not stand for re-election in the 2024 general election.

Political Views

Brexit Views

In 2016, Javid supported the UK staying in the European Union. He was part of the Britain Stronger in Europe group. However, the public voted to leave the EU. Javid had always supported the single market. He called it a "great invention."

Javid had been known to have some doubts about the EU in the past. As a student in 1990, he was even removed from a Conservative Party conference for handing out leaflets against Britain joining the European Exchange Rate Mechanism.

After the referendum, Javid said that politicians should respect the vote. He also said he was doubtful about softer Brexit options, like staying in the customs union. He believed voters had given "clear instructions" to leave. As Chancellor, Javid planned for millions of 50p Brexit coins to be made. This showed that the Treasury fully supported Brexit. In January 2020, Javid said the UK would not follow EU rules after leaving.

Israel and Palestine

Javid is seen as a strong supporter of Israel. He has long supported Conservative Friends of Israel. At an event in 2012, he said that if he had to choose a home in the Middle East, it would be Israel. He said his children would feel "the warm embrace of freedom and liberty" there.

In 2017, Javid said that attempts to stop contact with Israel were failing. He also said the government would "celebrate the Balfour centenary with pride." He promised to do everything he could to fight against those who try to isolate Israel.

Visit to the Western Wall

In 2019, Javid became the first British minister in 19 years to visit the Western Wall in the Old City of Jerusalem. Palestinian groups oppose visits to the Western Wall by foreign officials. They say these visits support Israeli claims to the eastern part of the city. Javid was advised not to visit the Wall. However, he later said he told officials to "get stuffed" and went anyway.

Campaign Against Boycotts of Israel

Javid has actively campaigned against Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) against Israel. In 2014, he said he would "always be proud to stand up and resist calls for boycotts of Israel." In 2015, as Culture Secretary, he said he had "no tolerance for cultural boycotts of Israel."

In 2016, as Communities Secretary, Javid announced rules to stop British councils from boycotting Israel. He also gave guidance to local authorities about their pension schemes.

Personal Life

Family Life

Javid grew up in a two-bedroom flat above a shop in Bristol with his four brothers. His brother Bas Javid was a police commander in Solihull and later at Scotland Yard. Bas also served in the Royal Navy and fought in the Gulf War.

In 1997, Javid married his wife, Laura King. They met during a summer job. Laura is a Christian, and they have four children. Their children go to private schools. The family owns homes in Fulham, Chelsea, Bristol, and Bromsgrove. They have a dog named Bailey.

Javid's oldest brother, Tariq, passed away in 2018. Tariq was a successful businessman. His other brothers are Khalid, a financial advisor; Basit, a civil servant; and Atif, a wealthy property owner.

Honors and Religion

Javid was given the title Knight Bachelor in 2024 for his work in politics and public service.

While his family background is Muslim, Javid does not practice any religion himself. His wife is a practicing Christian, and he has said that Christianity is the only religion practiced in his home.

Javid has spoken about the importance of fighting terrorism. He has said that it is "lazy" and "wrong" to suggest terror has nothing to do with Islam. He believes that there is a "special, unique burden on the Muslim community" to address terrorism. Javid has also criticized those in the Muslim community who question his faith. He said he was once rejected as a political candidate because of his religion. An Association Chairman told him that "some members didn't think locals would vote for a Muslim to be their MP."

Images for kids

Stuart Popham (left) and Javid at the 2011 Conservative Party Conference in Manchester
Treasury minister Javid discussing payday lending with Jo Swinson at the Which? ministerial credit visit in 2013
Lionel Barber and Javid, 2015 Financial Times Summer Party, Mondrian Hotel, London
Official 2018 portrait of Javid
Home Secretary Javid with Kirstjen Nielsen, U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, May 2018
John Bolton (right), then U.S. National Security Advisor meeting Javid at 11 Downing Street