As parliament returns, Boris Johnson’s levelling-up agenda is set to battle with sleaze for attention

Boris Johnson was accused by critics of being “in hiding” when he rationed his media appearances during his Christmas break at his Chequers country retreat. But there will be no escape when the Commons returns from its two-week recess on Wednesday.

The prime minister will be desperate to avoid another Commons vote on tougher Covid-19 rules, following the rebellion by 101 Tory MPs, so will anxiously watch the figures on hospital admissions and staff shortages.

His attempt to fight back after his terrible two months might be hindered by unfinished business from December – the inquiry by senior civil servant Sue Gray into parties held at No 10 before Christmas 2020 and an expected statement from Lord Geidt, his adviser on ministers’ interests, on whether Mr Johnson misled him over the funding of the refurbishment of his Downing Street flat. The nightmare scenario is that this controversy could prompt another inquiry, this time by Kathryn Stone, parliament’s anti-sleaze watchdog.

It will not be easy to keep “sleaze” out of the headlines. MPs will vote on restrictions to their second jobs proposed by the Commons standards committee following the Owen Paterson affair, which could bring Johnson into conflict with some Tory backbenchers.

The centrepiece of Mr Johnson’s fightback is likely to be a long-awaited white paper on his flagship “levelling up” agenda. Michael Gove, the minister responsible, will probably make a better fist of defining the concept than we have seen so far, but Tory MPs in the north and Midlands fear he will not prise extra money out of the Treasury.

Early legislation will include the long overdue Online Safety Bill to make tech giants responsible for what is on their platforms, providing Nadine Dorries’ biggest test since becoming culture secretary.

The House of Lords is expected to amend the Nationality and Borders Bill’s tougher regime for asylum seekers. Priti Patel, the home secretary, is braced for a long battle with peers in which she overturns their changes in the Commons. But she will not lose much sleep if this makes the government look tough on “illegal migrants”.

Hardline Brexiteers will be watching Liz Truss closely as she takes over negotiations with the EU on the Northern Ireland protocol. Will the foreign secretary opt for a quick deal or play hardball like her predecessor David Frost?

While Mr Johnson will hope the spotlight switches from accusations of sleaze to policy, MPs in all parties will focus on the increases in tax, council tax and energy bills in April. Even if the shadow of Omicron lifts, the new political year is likely to be dominated by the cost-of-living crisis.