Is Boris Johnson preparing his arsenal of excuses over his government’s performance?

The question mark about quarantine policy is one of a number of setbacks for the prime minister in recent weeks, writes Andrew Woodcock

Boris Johnson has faced a backlash from MPs over the new travel restrictions (PA)

Boris Johnson’s plan for a quarantine on travellers arriving in the UK from next Monday has caused anger and bafflement in equal measure among MPs at Westminster.

Of course, a prime minister with a majority of 80 can generally push through whatever policies he likes – and Johnson didn’t even have to risk a vote on the issue, as it was implemented by a ministerial order known as a statutory instrument.

But the scale of dismay among Tory MPs – stretching to the highest ranks of former ministers including Theresa May and Liam Fox – suggests that had he been forced to put it to a vote, the PM might well have been subjected to his first Commons defeat since his landslide victory in December.