Brexit news: Theresa May mocked over 'Groundhog Day' as she unveils plan B almost identical to original plan

At the regular briefing for political journalists, the prime minister's spokesman confirmed overnight reports that the focus of her 'plan B' will be - yet more - attempts to secure changes to the Irish backstop

He would not pre-empt the statement - but acknowledged those would have to go beyond the reassurances given by the EU last week, which failed to head off the record defeat on the meaningful vote

"We have to bring forward something that is different," he said.

The spokesman refused to be drawn on whether that would involve reopening the withdrawal agreement, which the EU has repeatedly refused to do - and which Ms May herself has previously said cannot be done.

Critics are certain to point to that as evidence that Ms May has listened to opponents on her own side - rather than opposition MPs, urging a softer Brexit, or a second referendum.

On no-deal warnings from business minister Richard Harrington, he said the PM had acknowledged there "would be disruption" under a no-deal Brexit, but measures were being put in place to "try to reduce that level of disruption".

Lots of chatter about Yvette Cooper and Nick Boles' amendment to the Brexit motion Theresa May will table later today. John Rentoul writes 'In a bizarre turn of events, Theresa May could get her Brexit deal through after all – the key lies with Yvette Cooper'.

The government spent between £60,000 and £65,000 of taxpayers' money on driving lorries down the A256 in Kent earlier this month, ministers have said.

The Department for Transport revealed the cost of the planning exercise for a no-deal Brexit in response to a parliamentary question from Lib Dem MP Tom Brake.

The exercise was designed to test whether roads in Kent could cope with the additional traffic that would follow a no-deal exit, if lorries entering the UK have to undergo border checks at Dover.

Mr Brake said: "For Chris Grayling, blowing £65,000 of taxpayers' money on paying lorry drivers to drive round in circles and drink coffee is just loose change. He normally squanders millions.

"This money would obviously have been better spent on the salaries of two nurses or police officers instead of a hare-brained scheme attempting to simulate the chaos associated with major no deal-linked disruption at Dover."

Theresa May's hopes of avoiding a chaotic Brexit face another blow from a House of Lords ambush that would stop the imposition of essential new trade rules.

The government is set to be defeated on Monday when peers rebel over ministers’ refusal to guarantee food safety, animal welfare and the power of parliament to block a free-for-all, The Independent has learned.

In an extremely rare move, the Lords is poised to vote to shelve the Trade Bill unless the government agrees to put flesh on the “skeleton” – something ministers have failed to do for 15 months.

More here: 

Confirmation that Theresa May's statement to MPs is likely to start around 3.30pm

Interesting - Brussels' reporters are saying the Polish foreign minister says the Irish backstop should be limited to five years. 

  ↵This is very interesting - Barry Gardiner, the shadow international trade secretary, has suggested Labour would support a second referendum if a motion on the issue was put before parliament...

Ireland's European Affairs minister has ruled out bilateral talks on Brexit with the DUP and any other political party in the UK.

Helen McEntee said the Brexit negotiations are between the EU and the UK, following reports of the possibility of a new treaty between the UK and Ireland to replace the Irish backstop.

Speaking on Morning Ireland, she said: "What we can't do and won't do, because we have not throughout this entire process, is engage in any kind of bilateral negotiations with the DUP or any other political party in the North or the UK."

Ms McEntee, however ruled out tweaking the Good Friday peace agreement.

She said: "It is not negotiable for us and I really doubt any parties in the South or North or those in the UK would agree to it.

"We have 94 per cent of the people here who voted overwhelmingly to support the Good Friday Agreement and it was over 70 per cent in the North.

"To suggest that after only 20 years we would try to amend it or change it, it's not something that we would consider and not something I think the Prime Minister would consider.

"Everything we are hearing is speculation and until the PM actually brings forward her motion, all of this is speculation."

The DUP's Jeffrey Donaldson said that the possibility of the EU and the UK resolving the backstop issue without the input of Belfast and Dublin is "unrealistic".

He said: "What we need to do is to find solutions and it is evident from the vote in the House of Commons last week that there are concerns, not just in the DUP, but across the House of Commons on the proposed backstop arrangement.

"We need to find a way of addressing those concerns and that means we need to be talking."

The Polish government has broken ranks from other EU member states and suggested giving in to Theresa May’s demand for a time-limit on the controversial Brexit backstop.

Arriving in Brussels for a meeting, foreign affairs minister Jacek Czaputowicz suggested a time-limit of five years on the policy – meeting demands of Tory Brexiteers.

More from our Europe correspondent Jon Stone: 

Regarding Barry Gardiner's comments, a spokesman for the shadow cabinet minister has just issued this retraction: "Barry is committed to Labour's policy of pushing for a general election as the best outcome and if the Conservatives continue to block a general election then we will keep all options on the table, including the option of campaigning for a public vote.

"Whipping arrangements in the coming days and weeks will be decided in the usual way."