Speculation around Jeremy Corbyn's future as Labour Party leader has surrounded the left-winger ever since he shocked Westminster watchers and succeeded Ed Miliband in September 2015.

Corbyn, a rebellious backbencher representing the London seat of Islington North, was best known for his involvement in the Stop the War Coalition and the group's opposition to the 2003 Iraq War.

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But his victory over Liz Kendall, Andy Burnham and Yvette Cooper dramatically increased his profile.

As leader of the official opposition Corbyn dropped his lifelong Euroscepticism and unsuccessfully campaigned for Remain at the EU referendum.

But despite his commitment to the pro-EU cause and with the UK backing a Brexit, the Labour parliamentary party began to turn on Corbyn in June 2016.

Hilary Benn was sacked as the shadow foreign secretary, triggering a motion of no confidence backed by 172 to 40 of the party's MPs.

Owen Smith would later launch a leadership bid against Corbyn, but the Welshman was beaten 62% to 38% in September last year.

With Labour up to 24 points behind the Conservatives in the polls and the general election just a month away on 8 June, there are five scenarios for Corbyn's future.

Stays on whatever the result

If the polls hold true and the Tories secure a landslide at the election, Corbyn was expected to resign. But the left-winger, 67, has told BuzzFeed News that he is staying put.

"I was elected leader of this party and I'll stay leader of this party," he said. As for the poor poll ratings and criticism from in and outside the party, 'Monsieur Zen is fine'.

Stays on because of 'progress'

Corbyn supporters and members of Labour's left have spoke about Neil Kinnock precedent. The moderniser was able to stay on as Labour leader after defeat at the 1987 general election because of the progress he had made. In particular, Labour gained 20 seats in the House of Commons.

"If he doesn't make any progress in the election, then of course [Corbyn should go]," author and journalist Owen Jones told IBTimes UK.

Stays on if Labour beats expectations

Labour may lose seats and its share of the vote at the election, but Corbyn could remain leader by arguing that he beat expectations by either stopping a Conservative landslide or outperforming the opinion polls.

Stays on as Labour prime minister

The opinion polls and the commentariat could be wrong once again. Remember Corbyn's first leadership victory (he was a 200/1 outsider), the Tory majority after the 2015 general election, the Brexit vote and Donald Trump's White House win? An unlikely Labour victory at the general election would mean Corbyn enters Number 10 and becomes prime minister.

Stays on and faces another leadership challenge

If Labour are beaten at the general election and Corbyn does not budge, it is expected that he will face another leadership challenge. Labour's selectorate may be unforgiving of the left-winger and vote him out depending on the amount of damage the party faces on 8 June.

Cooper is reportedly preparing a bid for after the election. "She's concentrating on the election," a source close to the former minister told IBTimes UK in April.

Jeremy Corbyn