
Let's not kid ourselves, being locked up indoors all day and reduced to just a few essential outdoor activities isn't the most riveting way to spend months on end but there's not much we can do about that.
However, one small silver lining is the fact that the nosiest of us have been granted unprecedented access into other's homes thanks to the technology that so many of us have resorted to during these times.
While we might be familiar with friends or colleague's homes already, the fact that we can now see into politicians homes has been a revelation just a tiny bit less fun as MTV Cribs.
As PMQs now goes digital with only a handful of MPs actually sitting in the Commons and media interviews being conducted through Zoom, we can see how the people we vote for actually choose to decorate their homes.
We'll admit that some are better than others but it is all down to the placement of that webcam and so far it has produced some real eye-openers. So, without further ado here are 23 of the worst to the best backgrounds that MPs have used so far.
Note: Anyone who has gone for a boring featuring just a white door or wall is immediately disqualified for lack of effort.
23. Stephen Kinnock
Unfortunately for Kinnock his bizarre appearance on last week's PMQs finishes bottom for us by virtue of it being just too weird.
Absolutely baffled by Stephen Kinnock's decision to wear formal shoes while doing #PMQs from home https://t.co/KgwtfpmNUs— Rob Fuller (@Rob Fuller) 1587555736
22. Helen Whately
The minister for Health and Social Care has had a torrid time during this pandemic thanks to her clashes with Piers Morgan and her background is clearly feeling the toll. We can barely read that Faversham sign.
Piers Morgan - Matt Hancock assured us that 100,000 people would be tested a day... & we tested less people yesterd… https://t.co/qoHCx7ra6M— Haggis_UK 🇬🇧 🇪🇺 (@Haggis_UK 🇬🇧 🇪🇺) 1587544520
21. David Davis
The former Brexit secretary possibly oversubscribed to the Encyclopaedia Britannica when he was younger...
Oh David Davis. This is not good. A vague idea that getting in front of some books will help is not enough, there i… https://t.co/e4U1sjVd2l— Bookcase Credibility (@Bookcase Credibility) 1587848402
20. Hilary Benn
Quite why Benn decided to sit right in front of his mantelpiece is beyond us but it was a set up for a perfect joke...
Hilary's Mantel https://t.co/vVWriW1JNv— David Wilcock (@David Wilcock) 1587994797
19. Liz Kendall
Not a great effort here from Labour's Liz Kendall who chose to display a half-empty bookshelf to the nation. Tsk tsk...
Liz Kendall. This is subtle work. Rather than have the bookcase square on, Liz has understood the benefit of positi… https://t.co/HcYu6g5iaH— Bookcase Credibility (@Bookcase Credibility) 1587472938
18. Priti Patel
Mad stuff from the home secretary who may or may not live in a home that is made out of frosted glass.
Deeply concerning language being used by the Home Secretary today, with her reference to ‘vexatious’ asylum claims.… https://t.co/FxXJiq1uK1— Refugee Council 🧡 (@Refugee Council 🧡) 1588171254
17. Keir Starmer
Really not much to say about this other than Keir Starmer might not have decorated his home since 1984.
"What I'm calling on the government to do, is to set out now what the exit strategy is." Labour leader… https://t.co/qXizD6Z33p— Sky News (@Sky News) 1586936417
16. Nicholas Fletcher
Not sure about you but we reckon that Fletcher might have gotten his decoration inspiration from a takeaway that he might have visited in his constituency.
Nicholas Fletcher - this wallpaper is saying 'I'm traditional, but with a modern twist. In fact I'm listening to Ra… https://t.co/dy7w2s8sMp— PoliticsJOE (@PoliticsJOE) 1587562656
15. Matt Hancock
Way too much chaotic energy from Hancock here. Messy bookshelves. A Newcastle United shirt. No clear entry or exit and let's not get us started on that Queen painting.
Matt Hancock in his cupboard. He has some books in the background but it's like the sort of shelf you'd see in a pu… https://t.co/IUkxvYzopk— Bookcase Credibility (@Bookcase Credibility) 1587422050
14. Barry Gardiner
The former shadow secretary for international trade appears to live in some brown hell...
Labour MP, Barry Gardiner says the government 'hasn't followed' the scientific advice over the #coronavirus outbrea… https://t.co/QW7YpPz3n8— Sky News (@Sky News) 1587555830
13. Gary Streeter
The Tory MP for Devon South West was either doing this call from a pub that he had quarantined himself in or he has converted his home into a small castle.
Sir Gary Streeter - has the air of a man giving you advice about the pub fruit machine #PMQzoomreview https://t.co/pnBpB2jkC4— PoliticsJOE (@PoliticsJOE) 1587563054
12. Lisa Nandy
We're not sure about this from Lisa Nandy. We can see what she was going for but we are getting flashbacks to the end of Hereditary.
Lisa Nandy. A spectacular, geometrical wonder. The lighting and the symmetry, with the skylights' sweep echoed by L… https://t.co/2fctK066cF— Bookcase Credibility (@Bookcase Credibility) 1587769165
11. Jeremy Hunt
This is nice from Hunt but we can't help but feel he is showing off.
Jeremy Hunt understands how angles and depth can heighten credibility. Rather than the safe approach of the main bo… https://t.co/iO1mIOm9rM— Bookcase Credibility (@Bookcase Credibility) 1587683633
10. Michael Gove
This should probably go lower but the audio cameo from Gove's cat really makes it.
#michaelgove's cat makes an intervention at the Future Relationship with the European Union Committee.. https://t.co/s81CBIkgKA— Laughing John ⚒️ 💙 (@Laughing John ⚒️ 💙) 1588000428
9. Jeremy Corbyn
We're not sure this counts as Corbyn has clearly done it in his back garden but we'll allow it.
8. David Lammy
An unconventional effort here from the MP for Tottenham but he clearly displays a fondness for art and cacti, which is OK by us.
“I’m absolutely joyous…. ecstatic… over the moon,” says Labour MP David Lammy as Sir Keir Starmer is announced the… https://t.co/DSjSHreorK— BBC Politics (@BBC Politics) 1585994329
7. Sara Britcliffe
The Tory MP for Hyndburn and Haslingden is a relative newcomer to British politics and shows a nice sentiment by displaying her children's art for all to see.
Sara Britcliffe, Con, Hyndburn, makes history by giving her first Commons speech remotely from her home https://t.co/fbxgdWNbV2— John Rentoul (@John Rentoul) 1588083051
6. Ed Davey
Nothing too flashy from the only Lib Dem on the list but a really nice collection of art sets off from the rest.
#Ridge - Should companies that are registered in tax havens be eligible for government support? Ed Davey - No the… https://t.co/tzpaeEp7QZ— Haggis_UK 🇬🇧 🇪🇺 (@Haggis_UK 🇬🇧 🇪🇺) 1587888169
5. Angela Rayner
We're not sure about the empty shelves but the flamingo and a pink bottle of fizz gets the thumbs up from us.
Really enjoyed the Zoom call tonight with @Keir_Starmer and our brilliant Labour Party members, and yes l do like P… https://t.co/mvhCOInRl4— Angela Rayner (@Angela Rayner) 1586982221
4. Simon Fell
A plea for help or an appreciation of abstract art? We'll let you decided but this is a fantastically surreal effort from Simon Fell.
Simon Fell wins the MP background art of the day award... 🤷♂️ https://t.co/necP7x4ppF— Daniel Kraemer (@Daniel Kraemer) 1588156564
3. Ian Blackford
Not the most aesthetically pleasing backdrop from the leader of the SNP but his Mitre football collection and Hibernian programme is sure to delight old school football fanatics.
Ian Blackford's Mitre football collection has already proved to be a highlight of social distance PMQs https://t.co/HRqag7E9th— Greg Evans (@Greg Evans) 1587554765
2. Theresa May
We honestly didn't know where to put this but probably placed it so high because it is so brilliantly bonkers. We can't tell if this is the basement, the landing or a stairway to another realm and, to be honest, we don't want to know.
Terrific entry in MPs’ video background competition from the member for Maidenhead https://t.co/Ma4V9wJCo4— John Rentoul (@John Rentoul) 1588082169
1. Caroline Lucas
You just knew that Caroline Lucas would smash this didn't you? A classy and professional effort from the leader of the Green Party. It looks like the sort of place that you would quite happily be quarantined to for months and wouldn't bat an eyelid.
Enormous thanks to @LucyWhelan for this one. An orthodox over the shoulder presentation is transformed into a firew… https://t.co/oGc7DuFFgi— Bookcase Credibility (@Bookcase Credibility) 1587761388
Bonus: Nigel Farage
Although not an MP we could hardly forget Farage and his Union Jack cushion and picture of a squirrel...
He looks like a divorcee sending a video message to the Russian bloke pretending to be his ‘girlfriend’ https://t.co/3KdjRm4aTT— Nooruddean (@Nooruddean) 1586377958
We're just really sad that we still haven't got a good look at Jacob Rees-Mogg's house who we are sure lives in a haunted stately home.