Brexit: What happens next after MPs rejected all the alternatives to Theresa May's plan?

MPs voted down all four Brexit options in front of them on Monday - but what does it mean for Brexit, Theresa May and the country?

Parliament is gripped by deadlock on Brexit. Having rejected Theresa May's deal three times, on Monday MPs also voted down all four alternative options placed in front of them.

After parliament rejected proposals to negotiate a customs union with the EU, stay in the single market, hold a fresh referendum or revoke Article 50 entirely, it is not at all clear what ministers will do next.

With Britain currently on course to leave the EU without a deal at the end of next week, they have only days to decide.

What happens next?

Theresa May's cabinet will meet for five hours on Tuesday in a bid to thrash out a way forward, but with ministers bitterly divided between those who want the prime minister to pursue a softer Brexit and those who want her to opt for no deal, it is far from clear that they will reach any kind of agreement.

On Wednesday, backbench MPs will once again seize control of the Commons agenda and will likely hold more votes on alternatives to the prime minister's plan. The proposal for a customs union with the EU was defeated by just three votes in Monday's "indicative votes", while a motion calling for another referendum was rejected by just 12. It is possible that one - or both - could receive a majority in the next round, piling pressure on Ms May to agree to implement them.

The UK has until 10 April to pass the current withdrawal deal or put forward a new plan. That is when the European Council will meet to consider any request from the UK for a further delay to Brexit. Unless this is approved, Britain will leave the bloc without a deal on 12 April.

Will there be yet another vote on Theresa May's deal?

Downing Street is highly likely to try to hold a fourth vote on Ms May's Brexit deal. With a lengthy delay to Brexit now looking likely, they will make clear to Eurosceptic rebels that they now have only two options: vote for the prime minister's plan, or face a long extension that could result in the UK not leaving the EU at all.

Stephen Barclay, the Brexit secretary, hinted at this on Monday after MPs rejected all four options proposed in the latest round of "indicative votes". He told the Commons: "If the House were to agree a deal this week it may still be possible to avoid holding European parliamentary elections."

However, the government will need to find a way around the ruling by John Bercow, the Commons speaker, that there cannot be another vote on the deal unless it has changed "substantially". This is because parliamentary rules forbid repeat votes on matters that have already been decided by MPs.

Even if the government is able to hold another vote, it appears unlikely that the deal will pass, given it was rejected by 58 votes last week.

Could Britain now leave the EU without a deal?

That is what the country is currently heading for, but it is still unlikely to happen. There is a significant majority in parliament against a no-deal outcome, meaning any attempt by the government to move in this direction would almost certainly be blocked. Ms May is also believed to be unwilling to take Britain out of the EU without a deal.

Instead, a long delay to Brexit appears to be the most likely outcome. This would need to be approved by the EU, however, and Brussels has said it will only agree if the UK puts forward a clear plan for how the extension will be used to ensure a withdrawal agreement is passed.

This could be through a general election, a fresh referendum or proposals for a Brexit deal more likely than Ms May's plan to gain parliament's support.

Any extension that is granted will almost certainly require the UK to hold European Parliament elections on 22 May.

Could there be a general election?

The current parliament has proved repeatedly unable to decide on important matters relating to Brexit.

That has prompted speculation that Theresa May's only option if her deal is rejected again could be to call a general election.

This would become significantly more likely if parliament tried to force her to accept a fresh referendum or a softer Brexit involving a customs union with the EU, given the prime minister has consistently ruled these out.

But the Conservatives' fear of losing power may lead them to thrash out a compromise rather than run the risk of allowing Jeremy Corbyn into No10.

There is also the matter of whether Ms May would be allowed to lead the Tories into an election, given the widespread opposition she has faced from her own MPs. The prime minister has already said she will not lead her party into the 2022 election and promised to step down if her Brexit deal is passed.

A general election is the last resort - but as other options are ruled out, it becomes ever more likely as the only way to break the current impasse.