How can Boris Johnson escape his Brexit trap?

The prime minister faces the humiliation of begging the European Union for a delay – and his options are running out fast, says Rob Merrick

Political headache: what’s the PM’s next move? (Reuters)

The gleeful opposition parties believe Boris Johnson is a cornered rat – unable to call the election he craves and facing the humiliation of having to beg for a further Brexit delay. A law to block a no-deal Brexit will be in place on Monday – imposing a legal duty to seek an Article 50 extension if no agreement has been reached by 19 October.

As Tony Blair put it, rather painfully: “Jeremy Corbyn has the most sensitive parts of Johnson’s political anatomy in his hands. Johnson cannot move without his consent.” So, after a calamitous week for the prime minister, what are his options?

Send someone else to do the job

A suggestion prompted by the prime minister’s infamous disappearing act to Afghanistan to avoid the vote on Heathrow expansion. However, EU leaders might just shrug their shoulders – so Mr Johnson would still be sanctioning an extension.

Try to pass a Brexit deal

Theresa May’s agreement is dead and buried, but gathering dust is the EU’s willingness for the hated Irish backstop to apply to Northern Ireland only, not the whole UK. Vetoed by the Democratic Unionist Party – setting the last prime minister on the path to disaster – her successor would be cutting loose his Ulster allies and probably still wouldn’t get it through the Commons.

Back a second referendum with No deal v Remain

The nearly 1.3 million signatures on The Independent’s Final Say campaign say it is the logical way out... but there is no sign that Mr Johnson agrees yet.

Break the law

The nuclear option – to refuse to sign the letter requesting a Brexit delay, creating the biggest constitutional crisis since Charles I had his head chopped off in 1649. The Supreme Court would be summoned, civil servants would go on strike and Mr Johnson could be jailed. But Dominic Cummings, his “career psychopath” (David Cameron) aide, is no doubt up for it.

Resign

What?! Quit, after just six weeks in office – it seems crazy but is increasingly viewed as a way out. By walking out of No 10 – perhaps after declaring no confidence in himself – while remaining Conservative leader, some other caretaker PM is dipped in the Brussels blood, leaving Mr Johnson’s clean to fight the election to follow, possibly in late November.

He may be a cornered rat – but we should probably remember that they are said to be the most dangerous.