Theresa May was accused of being stuck in a Brexit “Groundhog Day” after presenting a Plan B almost identical to her rejected Plan A.

The Prime Minister told MPs she will press the EU for more concessions on the unpopular backstop.

Government insiders said they hope the EU would be spooked by the clock running down to a no-deal scenario.

But it was far from clear that the bloc was willing to give enough ground.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said nothing had changed, despite the PM’s deal being rejected by a record margin last week.

He said: “What makes her think what she tried to renegotiate in December will succeed in January? This really does feel like Groundhog Day.”

There was just one major U-turn, with Mrs May saying she was scrapping the £65 fee for EU citizens to stay after Brexit, at a cost of £200million. Otherwise, the changes were cosmetic.

There was little detail on her offer of legal protections for workers’ rights and environmental safeguards and she refused to rule out leaving with no deal as it would not be “honest”.

And she suggested a second referendum could “damage social cohesion” by undermining faith in democracy.

MPs countered that her approach to Brexit was causing the real division.

Downing Street later denied Mrs May was suggesting there could be riots.

The PM also fuelled speculation she plans to delay Brexit Day by refusing to explicitly rule out extending Article 50.

When pressed, she rowed back from a previous commitment to say she was working on a deal “such that we can leave” the bloc.

Welfare Secretary Amber Rudd has warned dozens of ministers are ready to quit next week unless no-deal Brexit is ruled out.

The Remainer believes ministers should get a free vote on extending Article 50.

With cross-party talks stalling, the PM’s bid to break the deadlock looked doomed.

Senior Tories persuaded her any attempt to compromise with Labour would terminally split their party.

Instead, her focus was on offering Brexit bribes to the DUP and hardline MPs over the backstop on the Irish border – and the overtures showed early signs of working.

The DUP’s Nigel Dodds praised the PM for “good engagement” and “willingness to try and reach a consensus”.

Insiders clung to suggestions from Poland of a five-year time limit on backstop plans. But EU chiefs once again ruled out any changes.

Chief negotiator Michel Barnier said Mrs May already had the “best possible” deal.

And Irish deputy PM Simon Coveney said a backstop end-date did not represent EU thinking.

Tory Remainers were furious at the PM’s bid to win over Brexiteers and Anna Soubry said: “Here we are with another week of can-kicking – and the truth is, ­nothing’s changed.”

Sarah Wollaston added: “It’s like last week’s vote never happened. Plan B is Plan A.”

Labour MPs were also angry, with Angela Eagle accusing the PM of “playing chicken” with her own ­Brexiteers and the DUP.

It came as senior backbenchers began tabling amendments to the Brexit plan to let MPs take control.

Labour’s Yvette Cooper was planning a move to delay departure and leading Tory rebel Dominic Grieve plans for MPs to get an “indicative vote” to see if any other deal option could win a majority.

But they both need Mr Corbyn’s backing and the Labour leadership is eyeing all proposals with caution.

Downing Street said Parliament was unlikely to have a second binding vote on the PM’s deal until February – playing down the ­importance of next week’s vote.

Meanwhile, former Government lawyer Sir Stephen Laws said the PM could drag the Queen into a showdown with Parliament if MPs try to cancel or postpone Brexit – but this could create a constitutional crisis.

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