Theresa May will try to convince Tory and DUP MPs to back her Brexit deal by resolving Irish backstop concerns, it has been reported.

Last week, the Prime Minister said she would focus on cross-party talks to get a withdrawal agreement accepted by Parliament.

But it is understood she is now seeking to win approval from her own benches and show the EU that MPs could back a deal without a backstop in the hope of encouraging Brussels to soften its position.

The backstop is the "insurance policy" in the withdrawal deal, intended to ensure there is no hard border between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic after the UK leaves the EU.

The Herald:

Mrs May's initial withdrawal deal was rejected by a majority of 230 MPs in a historic defeat earlier this month.

If Parliament doesn't approve a withdrawal agreement, the UK is due to leave the EU on 29 March without a deal or transition period.

The prime minister will address the Commons on Monday afternoon, setting out how she intends to proceed with the Brexit withdrawal agreement.

She will also table a "neutral" motion, simply saying that the Commons has considered her statement, which will be debated and voted upon on January 29.

This motion is expected to attract amendments from groups of backbenchers seeking more of a say in the process.

Read more: Brexit - What might happen next

Two groups of MPs are expected to table bills which could take a no-deal Brexit off the table, and potentially suspend Article 50 - which allows the UK to leave the EU.

One of the groups - which includes Labour's Yvette Cooper, Conservative Nicky Morgan, and Liberal Democrat MP Norman Lamb - wants the UK to extend negotiations with the EU beyond 29 March, if MPs do not approve a withdrawal agreement by 26 February.

There was anger among pro-Leave MPs at moves to enable backbenchers to take control of the Commons business from the Government - in breach of normal conventions - through a series of amendments to the neutral motion.

One group including senior Labour MP Yvette Cooper and Tory former minister Nick Boles is seeking to give time for a bill to suspend the Article 50 withdrawal process if there is no new deal with Brussels by the end of February.

Another more radical amendment drawn up by former attorney general Dominic Grieve would allow a motion by a minority of 300 MPs - from at least five parties and including 10 Tories - to be debated as the first item of Commons business the next day.

Read more: Ian Blackford urges PM to ‘fundamentally’ change position on Brexit

Mr Grieve said it would enable the Commons to stage a series of "indicative votes" on the various alternatives, such as a "soft" Norway-style deal or a second referendum to establish which could command a majority.

He denied claims he was seeking to prevent Britain leaving the EU after International Trade Secretary Liam Fox accused pro-Remain MPs of trying to "hijack" the 2016 referendum vote.

Mrs May is expected to use her statement to explain how she intends to proceed in the run up to the vote on January 29, rather than setting out a detailed "plan B".

But Ian Blackford blasted the reported plans, tweeting on Monday: "The threat to reopen the Good Friday agreement is beneath contempt from a Prime Minister who I did not think could plumb such depths. To play with the relative peace in Northern Ireland is not on. The rest of us have to state this is a complete no go area. This PM has to go."