Michael Gove has raised the prospect of Boris Johnson being toppled if he fails to strike a Brexit deal, to be replaced by “a new Labour or other prime minister”.

Asked about the fading prospects for an agreement, with a crucial EU summit just 17 days away, the cabinet office minister argued the EU must recognise “this process will involve compromise for everyone”.

He then added: “I can’t believe that the EU would want a situation where we are continually negotiating a deal, with a new Labour or other prime minister, and this process is endlessly delayed.”

The suggestion of a different leader in No 10 followed a discussion about the EU’s likely reluctance to shift its stance, given the growing political chaos at Westminster and Mr Johnson’s weakness.

And it came as opposition parties, and ex-Tory MPs, reopen talks about whether to stage a vote of no confidence as early as this week, with the aim of bringing him down.

The comment also contradicted the repeated insistence of government ministers that the UK will crash out of the EU on Halloween, if no deal has been struck.

Supreme Court protests: Boris Johnson's prorogation legal or not? Show all 15 1 /15 Supreme Court protests: Boris Johnson's prorogation legal or not? Supreme Court protests: Boris Johnson's prorogation legal or not? Protesters gather outside The Supreme Court ahead of a hearing on the legality of Boris Johnson's proroguing of Parliament Getty Supreme Court protests: Boris Johnson's prorogation legal or not? The supreme court justices will sit as a panel of 11 judges to hear the challenge, brought by campaigner Gina Miller, that the Prime Minister acted unlawfully when he advised the Queen to suspend parliament AP Supreme Court protests: Boris Johnson's prorogation legal or not? A woman protests outside the Supreme Court Reuters Supreme Court protests: Boris Johnson's prorogation legal or not? The PM sent lawmakers home on 9 September until 14 October, just over two weeks before the UK is due to leave the European Union AP Supreme Court protests: Boris Johnson's prorogation legal or not? Gina Miller arriving AP Supreme Court protests: Boris Johnson's prorogation legal or not? People protest outside the Supreme Court Reuters Supreme Court protests: Boris Johnson's prorogation legal or not? Boris Johnson likened himself to the Incredible Hulk days previous as he promised to ignore the Commons legislation ordering him to delay Brexit if negotiations break down PA Supreme Court protests: Boris Johnson's prorogation legal or not? Officials bring in documents Reuters Supreme Court protests: Boris Johnson's prorogation legal or not? Protesters hold banners outside the Supreme Court in London, Tuesday Sept. 17, 2019. The Supreme Court is set to decide whether Prime Minister Boris Johnson broke the law when he suspended Parliament on Sept. 9, sending lawmakers home until Oct. 14 â€” just over two weeks before the U.K. is due to leave the European Union. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham) Matt Dunham AP Supreme Court protests: Boris Johnson's prorogation legal or not? Protesters hold banners outside the Supreme Court in London, Tuesday Sept. 17, 2019. The Supreme Court is set to decide whether Prime Minister Boris Johnson broke the law when he suspended Parliament on Sept. 9, sending lawmakers home until Oct. 14 â€” just over two weeks before the U.K. is due to leave the European Union. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham) Matt Dunham AP Supreme Court protests: Boris Johnson's prorogation legal or not? Protesters hold banners outside the Supreme Court in London, Tuesday Sept. 17, 2019. The Supreme Court is set to decide whether Prime Minister Boris Johnson broke the law when he suspended Parliament on Sept. 9, sending lawmakers home until Oct. 14 â€” just over two weeks before the U.K. is due to leave the European Union. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham) Matt Dunham AP Supreme Court protests: Boris Johnson's prorogation legal or not? People protest outside the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom during a hearing on Prime Minister Boris Johnson's decision to prorogue parliament, in London, Britain September 17, 2019. REUTERS/Phil Noble PHIL NOBLE Reuters Supreme Court protests: Boris Johnson's prorogation legal or not? Protesters hold banners outside the Supreme Court in London, Tuesday Sept. 17, 2019. The Supreme Court is set to decide whether Prime Minister Boris Johnson broke the law when he suspended Parliament on Sept. 9, sending lawmakers home until Oct. 14 â€” just over two weeks before the U.K. is due to leave the European Union. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham) Matt Dunham AP Supreme Court protests: Boris Johnson's prorogation legal or not? Joanna Cherry of the Scottish National Party leaves the Supreme Court Reuters Supreme Court protests: Boris Johnson's prorogation legal or not? Demonstrators protest outside the Supreme court in central London on the first day of the hearing into the decision by the government to prorogue parliament on September 17, 2019. (Photo by Tolga Akmen / AFP)TOLGA AKMEN/AFP/Getty Images TOLGA AKMEN AFP/Getty

During a fringe meeting at the Conservative conference, the prime minister’s key ally also said the hunt for a deal could stretch beyond the EU summit on 17 October – which Mr Johnson has called the deadline.

Mr Gove pointed to the Greek bailout crisis in 2010, telling the Policy Exchange event, when the EU indulged in “deal-making late into the night”.

“Ideally, we would have a proposition that was ready for the European Council – but it may well be the case that things go right to the wire,” he said.

The claim ignores the reality that the Benn Act requires the prime minister to seek an extension to Article 50, to delay Brexit, if no deal has been passed by parliament by 19 October.

Ministers have insisted they will comply with the law, but also that the UK will leave the EU on 31 October – refusing to explain the contradiction.

Elsewhere in an hour-long question-and-answer session, Mr Gove insisted a no-deal Brexit could still happen but, asked what might be the “loophole”, replied: “Wait to see.”

The once arch-enemy of Mr Johnson, before the pair were reconciled for him to take charge of no deal-planning, also:

* Defended the prime minister’s controversial language in the Commons last week – saying “robust language in political debate is part of our history”.

* Suggested failing to leave the EU on deadline on 31 October would lead to the rise of “populist parties”.

* Said the fixed term parliaments act should be scrapped, after Mr Johnson’s failure to trigger a snap election.