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Alex Forsyth
Political correspondent

With grumblings on the Tory benches about the government’s recent performance Boris Johnson needed a good PMQs to mark the return to parliament.

His political opponents – perhaps unsurprisingly – criticised the number of policy U-turns in recent months.

While ministers have repeatedly said they’re responding to changing science as the pandemic progresses, the speed and frequency of policy shifts is the crux of concern among some Conservative backbenchers.

Keir Starmer returned to what some supporters have called a ‘forensic’ style of questioning in pushing the prime minister for detail on the exam results crisis.

Boris Johnson responded with a wide-ranging attack on the Labour leader which led to a tetchy exchange.

But with another shift in policy – this time on local lockdowns in Trafford and Bolton – taking place as the prime minister was at the dispatch box, it seems unlikely his performance was enough to silence critics - including those within his own party.

Reality Check

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that the UK “has now conducted more tests than any other country in Europe”.

This isn’t entirely straightforward to judge, because each country may record figures slightly differently or, in some cases, release statistics less regularly.

What is clear is that, compared to many European countries, the UK has recorded a high number of tests.

As of September 1, the UK has processed 16.3m tests. This compares with 11m tests in Germany.

Another way to look at this is how many tests have been conducted relative to the size of the population.

It would be unfair, for example, to expect a small country like Iceland to conduct 16m tests in a population a fraction of the size of the UK’s.

On per capita tests, Our World In Data – a University of Oxford backed project – suggests that, using the best data available, the UK is high compared to other European countries with almost 198 tests carried out for every 1,000 people.

Germany has carried out 134 per 1,000 people, Spain has done 137 and Italy has done 87 tests.

However, some countries have done more per capita, including:

• Portugal, with 202 tests per 1,000
• Lithuania, with 238 tests
• Denmark, with 422 tests

Reality Check

Prime Minister Boris Johnson challenged the Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer to say that it was safe for children to return to school.

When he did, Mr Johnson said “That’s the first time in four months he’s said it”.

On 23 June, Sir Keir said in the Commons: "On schools, I do think that it is safe for some children to return. I completely support that; the question is how quickly we can get all children back to school safely, the sooner the better.”

Image source, HoC

As PMQs ends, Sir Lindsay Hoyle says he had granted a point of order from the SNP's Ian Blackford.

Mr Blackford raises a story in the Daily Mail last month showing a photograph of the Scottish holiday home where the PM had been staying.

Mr Blackford says the government created a "smear", by saying he had been involved in releasing the information about where Mr Johnson was.

This, Mr Blackford adds, has led to threats against himself. He decries "false briefings" and says he has not received a reply to a letter he sent to the government.

The PM says he had a "wonderful staycation" in Wester Ross.

He adds that he accepts Mr Blackford's "assurances and protestations" that he had no involvement in revealing the location of his holiday.

Image source, HoC

Tory MP Lee Anderson says the asylum system in the UK is "broken and being abused", with people smuggling "poor souls" over on boats.

He calls on the PM to "fix the asylum system" and "save lives" by "taking back control" post-Brexit.

Mr Johnson says he has a "great deal of sympathy with those so desperate to put children in dinghys" to get them to the UK.

But he says they are "falling prey to criminal gangs, breaking the law and undermining legitimate claims" to asylum.

The PM says the UK will "take advantage of leaving the EU" by changing the rules and addressing the "rigidities in our laws" that make the UK a "magnet for those who would exploit vulnerable people".

And with that, the first PMQs back comes to an end.

Image source, HoC

Asked by Labour's Ruth Cadbury about government U-turns over the summer and which is his "favourite", the PM says he and his colleagues are working to get the country and the economy "back on its feet".

He says Labour should reassure people that it is safe to return to work and schools.

Image source, HoC

Tory MP Andrew Lewer uses his question to take ask about the BBC license fee.

He says: "When I buy a Daily Mirror, Mail or Telegraph, I am not forced to buy a Guardian.

"But when I buy Netflix or Amazon Prime, I am forced to pay for the BBC."

Lewer asks the PM if this model is "sustainable".

The PM says he is sure the MP's view is "shared by many people in this country".

But while not commenting directly, he reveals "a roadmap for reform of the BBC" will be coming soon and "addressing the issue he mentions".

Image source, HoC

Asking his question by video link, SNP MP Neil Gray urges the PM to rule out a public sector pay freeze, saying it would be a "betrayal" of key workers fighting coronavirus.

Mr Johnson says there's been an "inflation-busting" rise recently and that Mr Gray should acknowledge this.

Image source, HoC

Tory MP James Davies brings a bit of reality TV to the Commons...

He says: "One positive among the gloom is this year's 'I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here' will not be filmed in New South Wales, Australia, but in our own North Wales."

He says he may not be able to tempt the PM to "take part in a Welsh-tucker trial", but asked him to praise the relocation.

Johnson says he is "right to draw attention to the attractions of North Wales".

Image source, HoC

The SNP's Owen Thompson asks what he should tell companies in the creative industries facing collapse when furlough ends.

The PM denies an accusation that the government has "given up" on them.

Image source, HoC

Conservative Damian Green urges the prime minister to encourage the rail industry to bring in flexible rail ticketing, to help commuters get to work and "help save the rail industry". Mr Johnson says the government is working "at pace" to get things moving.

Alex Forsyth
Political correspondent

The government have repeatedly said position shifts are inevitable in a global pandemic when the science changes – but both Labour and the SNP are pushing hard on the number of U-turns. They know it’s highly uncomfortable for the PM given some of his own backbenchers are concerned.

Image source, HoC

Next to question the prime minister is the SNP's leader in Westminster, Ian Blackford.

He quotes Johnson on u-turns, saying the PM had admitted his government was "all at sea".

But Blackford calls on him to make another u-turn and extend to furlough scheme for workers

Johnson says the scheme cost £40bn and supported 11 miliion people, but claimed it kept them "in suspended animation".

He adds: "What we want to do is get people back to work".

On his second question, Mr Blackford points to places like France and Germany where similar schemes have been extended, saying their governments "made a moral choice [as they were] not prepared to punish their people".

But Johnson says it was time to get people back into work.

Alex Forsyth
Political correspondent

Keir Starmer’s line of attack on government competence on U-turns echoes the concern of some Tory backbenchers in recent days – lots will be looking to the PM’s performance today and throughout the week.