Which way to turn?

Johnson’s options in the days ahead

♦try to shame opposition MPS into voting for an early election The Prime Minister’s “Plan A” is still to call an election on Oct 15 by persuading Parliament to back one under the Fixed Term Parliaments Act.

However, that requires two thirds of MPS to agree, and all of the opposition parties have said they will block it on Monday, despite Mr Johnson’s claims that they are going against the will of the people.

He could also table a one-line Bill calling for an election on a specific date, which would require a simple majority in Parliament. However, this would be fraught with danger, as Labour could table amendments calling for a different date or for the voting age to be lowered to 16.

Another way of trying to force an election would be to call a confidence vote in himself unless Labour does so first. ♦defy the law Labour’s Bill to force a Brexit delay in the event of no deal being reached by Oct 31 became an Act of Parliament yesterday, meaning Mr Johnson will be required by law to seek a three-month extension to Article 50 and accept whatever length of delay Brussels decides to impose.

Mr Johnson has been clear that he will not do this, meaning he could simply ignore the Act and force the opposition to take him to court or to agree to an election. Either way, he could run down the clock until Britain leaves without a deal on Oct 31.

♦get another country to force a no-deal Brexit Mr Johnson could try to persuade one of the other 27 EU states to veto an extension to Article 50, which would mean Britain leaving on Oct 31 without a deal.

♦resign

If he does none of the above, and refuses to ask for an extension, the Prime Minister’s final option would be to resign. He ruled that out yesterday, saying he would stay, deliver Brexit and defeat Jeremy Corbyn.