The Tories need a new purpose

One of the things that distinguishes Boris Johnson from the last three Tory prime ministers is that he has a comfortable majority. This gives him a lot of flexibility. Unlike David Cameron, Theresa May or John Major, Johnson can handle a parliamentary rebellion of quite some size. Indeed, the 25 Tory MPs who in July voted against the cut to foreign aid would have wiped out any Conservative majority since the 1992 election.

Until recently, Johnson hadn’t used his 80-seat majority much. He did take on large Tory rebellions over Covid powers, but the significance of these revolts was reduced by the fact Labour either abstained or backed the government on virus measures. ‘In the past it has appeared we don’t know how to use our majority,’ says one secretary of state. He boasts that the victory in the Commons over raising National Insurance ‘shows we do’.

The government is beginning to learn how to use its majority, but in the last few weeks it has also advertised its own limitations.