Can bringing MPs back to parliament give Boris Johnson the boost he needs?

Tories are pushing hard to return to Westminster, despite a furious row over safety concerns, Lizzy Buchan writes

The prime minister has missed having MPs to watch his back (Reuters)

MPs are set to return to Westminster in person on Tuesday after weeks of conducting parliamentary business virtually, except for a handful of politicians present in the Commons chamber.

The decision, which was pushed through the Commons by Tory MPs on a whipped vote, sparked a major row over the potential risks to the safety of vulnerable parliamentarians and staff.

Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the Commons speaker, said he was very worried that infection could spread rapidly if the government insists on forcing MPs to go through crowded lobbies to vote.

The Commons Procedure Committee, led by former Tory cabinet minister Karen Bradley, expressed “serious concerns” about the safety of divisions and said remote voting should be used as an alternative.

With all these issues still up in the air, the government’s rush to get MPs back into the Commons despite continued coronavirus restrictions raises questions about the motivations behind the decision.

Jacob Rees-Mogg previously argued that getting MPs back into parliament would set an example to the rest of the country on returning to work, as the government begins to ease the lockdown.

There is also important law-making to do, including the immigration bill which passed its second reading earlier this month. The draft legislation – which will end freedom of movement – must now undergo line-by-line scrutiny before it can progress.

But the move has also fuelled widespread speculation that part of the reason for bringing Tory MPs back is to boost Boris Johnson in his Prime Minister’s Questions clashes with Sir Keir Starmer.

The Labour leader, a former director of public prosecutions who is known for his forensic questioning, has proved to be a force to be reckoned with, particularly for a prime minister who is not known for his grasp of detail.

Creating a more lively environment could help Mr Johnson, if more Tory MPs are there to barrack Sir Keir and to cheer approvingly for the prime minister.

More action in the house could also provide a useful distraction from the ongoing row over whether the prime minister’s top aide, Dominic Cummings, breached lockdown rules by travelling to his parents’ house in Durham.

Mr Johnson has been dogged by questions over the actions of his senior adviser for more than a week, with recent polls showing the extent of the political fallout from the controversy.

A recent YouGov survey saw the Conservative lead over Labour slashed by nine points in a week, as Tory support fell by 4 points to 44 per cent. Labour was on 38 per cent, up five points on a week ago.

Mr Johnson will want to be seen to be back in control as the lockdown lifts – and a busy House of Commons will allow ministers to appear to be getting things done.

Bringing MPs back where the whips can see them could also help with party discipline. Dozens of Conservatives have spoken out against Mr Cummings – and they are harder to control from afar.

But the prime minister should remember that this works both ways. While normal parliamentary socialising will be curtailed – no drinks in the Strangers’ Bar or trips to the tea room – MPs will be more able to make mischief in Westminster than in their living rooms.