Theresa May is facing the political battle of her life in the wake of David Davis’ dramatic resignation as Brexit Secretary.
Tory MPs are threatening to oust her from the top job, while speculation has renewed that she might quit and walk away from her divided party – and country.
This could pave the way for a shake-up of the Tory leadership, yet another General Election, a Jeremy Corbyn-led Government and even a major overhaul on Britain’s Brexit plans.
Here are some of the scenarios which could happen if Mrs May is ousted from No10.
Scenario 1: Theresa May is ousted and replaced by another Tory PM without a General Election:
Theresa May could be toppled in two ways. Furious Brexiteers on her backbenches could mutiny and call a leadership contest if 15 per cent of them (currently 48 MPs) write to the chairman of the 1922 Committee Graham Brady saying they have no confidence in her.
This would trigger a leadership contest which, if she lost, would force Mrs May out of No10 in a humiliating end to her political career.
Theresa May (pictured with her ministers at Chequers on Friday) is facing the political battle of her life in the wake of David Davis’ dramatic resignation as Brexit Secretary.
The winner could be installed at Downing Street without having to go to a national vote in a General Election – just as Mrs May was installed after David Cameron quit in 2016.
Alternatively, Mrs May could decide that she has had enough of her warring Cabinet and mutinous backbenchers and quit – again allowing her Tory successor to take up the reins of power without a General Election.
Scenario 2: Theresa May is toppled and a General Election is called – potentially allowing Jeremy Corbyn into No10:
If Theresa May is ousted via a no confidence vote or sensationally quits, the Tory party may find itself so bitterly divided they decide to call another General Election.
Bookies have slashed the odds of another election being called this year – with Ladbrokes cutting their odds from 11/2 on Sunday night to 5/2 today.
This would be the third major national poll in three years – after the EU referendum in 2016 and Mrs May’s disastrous snap election last year.
British voters tend to punish divided parties at the ballot box, and there many Tories are terrified that an election could let hard-left Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn slip into power.
David Davis (pictured this morning) has throw Theresa May’s premiership into meltdown after he sensationally quit the Cabinet late last night – just months before Brexit negotiations are due to finish
Scenario 3: Theresa May clings on but her political authority is dealt a major blow:
Even if Tory Brexiteers mutiny and call a vote of no confidence in the PM, she may rally enough support to survive it.
However, the battle will have dealt a major blow to her already beleaguered authority and would almost certainly mean she would quit after delivering Brexit rather than stay on and fight another General Election.
Scenario 4: Parliament and the country are so divided a second referendum is called:
Remainers who are determined to stop Brexit have swooped upon the bitter war raging at the top of Government to demand a second referendum.
They claim that if Tory ministers cannot agree a deal then they cannot expect the British public to sign up to it either.
Many Brexit voters will feel betrayed if their historic vote in 2016 is effectively picked apart by politicians – and commentators have warned that it will only fuel anger and disenfranchisement with the political class.