If Brexit were a tennis match, it would be one of those grueling five-setters which has gone down to a tie-break in the last, with the score currently 60 games even, and neither player able to gain a clear advantage over the other.

Everyone is utterly exhausted, but there is no end in sight.

On Monday night, the UK Parliament failed to reach a majority on an alternative plan to Theresa May‘s Brexit deal. Despite a second day of highly unusual circumstances in which they seized control of proceedings of the House of Commons, lawmakers could not take a game off the prime minister.

On Tuesday, the ball is back in her court. It is what she does next that could see one side finally declaring victory.

Risky option

As the deadlock in parliament runs into its fifth month, there is growing talk of a general election.

On Tuesday, May will chair a mammoth five-hour meeting of her Cabinet, the first three hours of which will be purely political, without civil servants — meaning only Conservative Party business can be discussed. This detail has fueled rumors that the prime minister is considering an election as one way of getting more clarity — and, in theory, to get a mandate for one type of Brexit over another.

Downing Street has publicly insisted that an election is not on the cards — but May’s aides have certainly been discussing it, as other options run out. However, from the prime minister’s point of view, an election now would be too high risk and could put opposition Labour party under Jeremy Corbyn in power.

At the Cabinet meeting Tuesday, there is likely to be fierce disagreement over a way forward. There are now only 10 days left until the new Brexit deadline of April 12, and, as it stands, the UK is due to leave the EU with no deal. Read more

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