WHAT ARE UK PM’S OPTIONS?

JACK DOYLE examines what might happen next:

DEAL

Against all the odds, the two sides agree to meet halfway and a deal is done in time for the EU Council on October 17. Boris Johnson and EU leaders hammer out an agreement that is part fudge, part cankicking and part compromise. Everyone declares themselves the winner. Mr Johnson goes to the House of Commons on the 19th and, with the support of the DUP and a handful of Labour MPs, gets a vote through. Britain leaves on October 31 and the Commons agrees to an election shortly after. Likelihood: 1/10

DON’T SEND A LETTER

Mr Johnson stands by his ‘do or die, come what may’ pledge and refuses to send the letter asking for a Brexit delay. He won’t give in to the terms of the ‘Surrender Act’, he says, and government lawyers have found a loophole to get him out of his fix. Several ministers, including the Attorney General and Lord Chancellor, quit. MPs are in uproar and, with Gina Miller, launch an immediate court challenge. Mr Johnson loses in the High Court, appeals to the Supreme Court and again loses but keeps his hands clean and instructs Cabinet Secretary Mark Sedwill to write a letter. 3/10

SEND TWO LETTERS

Under duress, Mr Johnson writes the letter asking for a three-month delay. But he pens a second letter setting out his real view to EU leaders: That he is being forced to extend by those in the Remain-dominated Commons. Lawyers tell Mr Johnson he can ‘honestly state his view’ to the Commission. The EU grants the extension and Brexit is delayed until January 31. 6/10

RESIGN

Trapped by the Benn Act and unwilling to defy the law, Mr Johnson decides to quit No 10. His advisors fear that if he agrees to extend he will face an onslaught from Nigel Farage that would destroy his credibility. But who would he urge Queen Elizabeth to choose as his successor – and the person to actually carry out the extension? Jeremy Corbyn? John Bercow? Ken Clarke? 2/10

VOTE ON NO DEAL

After talks collapse, Mr Johnson hauls MPs back to the Commons. The negotiations have failed because of EU intransigence, he says. He lays down a motion calling for No Deal, forcing MPs to pick a side and vote once again for delay. The prime minister loses the vote but makes clear to voters it is parliament that is blocking Brexit. In the subsequent election, the Tories focus their efforts against Labour MPs who backed a delay. 7/10

NO CONFIDENCE VOTE

Anti-No Deal campaigners are spooked by Mr Johnson’s refusal to send the letter. A ragtag coalition of Labour, Lib Dems, SNP, independents and former Tories seek to force Mr Johnson out via a confidence vote and install a temporary PM who agrees the extension. Fearing a backlash in a general election, they then legislate for a second referendum. 2/10