Signs of breakthrough as May set to unveil New Brexit plan

LONDON, Jan 21 (Agencies): Prime Minister Theresa May is set to unveil her new plan to break Britain's Brexit deadlock - and it's expected to look a lot like the old plan decisively rejected by Parliament last week.

May was set to brief the House of Commons on Monday on how she intends to proceed. There are few signs she will make radical changes to her deal, though she may seek alternations to its most contentious section, an insurance policy to guarantee an open Irish border after Brexit.

The EU insists it will not renegotiate the withdrawal agreement.

May also faces a battle from lawmakers who are trying to use amendments to rule out the possibility of Britain leaving the EU without a deal.

Lawmakers are due to vote on May's "Plan B" on Jan 29.

Theresa May will try to convince Tory Brexiteers and DUP MPs to back her withdrawal deal by resolving Irish backstop concerns, cabinet sources say.

Last week, Mrs May said she would focus on cross-party talks to get a Brexit deal accepted by Parliament.

But it is understood she is now seeking to win approval from her own benches, with the government unlikely to win widespread Labour backing.

Downing Street insisted that cross-party talks were continuing.

The backstop is the "insurance policy" in the withdrawal deal, intended to ensure that whatever else happens, there will be no return to a visible border between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic after the UK leaves the EU.