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Theresa May was monstered from all sides tonight after she offered a vote on a second referendum in a desperate effort to get her Brexit Bill through.

The PM made an emotional plea for MPs to get on board with her 'bold' package, saying they had 'one last chance' to get the UK's departure from the EU over the line before the chance 'slips away'.

'I've tried everything I possibly can to get this through,' she said. 'I've offered to give up the job I love.' 

In a speech in Westminster, Mrs May held out the prospect of a temporary customs union with the EU until the next general election, as well as a vote on a referendum in a bid to break the deadlock. 

But MailOnline understands she was forced to water down her offer after a ferocious Cabinet revolt over the idea of giving MPs a free vote on a referendum - something that would have made it much more likely to pass. 

Commons Leader Andrea Leadsom and Transport Secretary Chris Grayling apparently threatened to quit during a fraught two-hour session in Downing Street this morning. No10 said whipping arrangements for the vote have yet to be decided.

The package laid out by Mrs May in a speech this evening only managed to infuriate both sides, with Brexiteers branding it a 'direct insult' and a 'dog's breakfast', while Labour and key Remainers said it did not go far enough.   

As the problems for the premier deepened, Jacob Rees-Mogg, the DUP and more moderate Tories publicly declared that they will vote against the Bill - putting it on track for a crushing defeat. 

Theresa May appealed for politicians to get on board with her 'bold' package in a speech in Westminster this afternoon

In an passionate speech as dusk appeared to be falling on her time in power, Mrs May:

• Tried to reassure Brexiteers by saying the government is still seeking 'alternative arrangements' that could avoid the Irish border backstop ever coming into effect.  
• Pitched to Labour MPs be committed to legal guarantees that workers' protections will be just as favourable in the UK as in the EU.  
• Said MPs will be able to decide between a temporary customs union with the EU and the government's customs proposals.
• Offered a vote on a second referendum - but stopped short of saying Tory MPs would be allowed a free vote on the issue. 

In the hastily-arranged address, Mrs May warned that this was the last chance to avoid 'a nightmare future of permanently polarised politics'. 

She said: 'If MPs vote against the second reading of this Bill they are voting to stop Brexit. 

'If they do so the consequences could hardly be greater - reject this deal and leaving the EU with a negotiated deal any time soon will be dead in the water and what would we do then?' 

Mrs May also delivered a stark message to Brexiteers that their hardline demands risked keeping the UK in the EU. 

'Some suggest leaving without a deal,' she said.

'But whatever you think of that outcome – Parliament has been clear it will do all it can to stop it.

'If not no deal, then it would have to be a General Election or a second referendum that could lead to revocation – and no Brexit at all.' 

Labour demands for a second referendum crashed efforts to get a cross-party compromise on Brexit last week.

Trying to win over Remainer MPs to her point of view, Mrs May said: 'I recognise the genuine and sincere strength of feeling across the House on this important issue. 

'The Government will therefore include in the Withdrawal Agreement Bill at introduction a requirement to vote on whether to hold a second referendum and this must take place before the Withdrawal Agreement can be ratified.'  

But Mrs May's suggestion was dismissed as a 'con trick' by Labour MPs. The last time a whipped vote was held on a referendum, it was overwhelmingly defeated by 334 to 85 - and supporters do not believe the result would be different.   

During the fraught Cabinet meeting earlier, MailOnline understands that chief whip Julian Smith warned the PM that she is staring down the barrel of defeat.

But she was prevented from making deeper concessions by objections from key Brexiteer ministers. 

Mrs May told her team: 'The Withdrawal Agreement is the vehicle which gets the UK out the EU and it is vital to find a way to get it over the line.'

A Downing Street spokesman said: 'Cabinet discussed the new deal which the Government will put before Parliament in order to seek to secure the UK's exit from the EU. 

'The discussion included alternative arrangements, workers rights, environmental protections and further assurances, in particular the integrity of the UK in the unlikely event the backstop is required.'

The response to the latest move by Mrs May was vicious.

The DUP's Westminster leader Nigel Dodds said: 'We will have to await the publication of the text of the Bill to see what the proposals actually mean but the fact is that the fatal flaws of the draft treaty remain.' 

Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith said there was nothing new in Mrs May's latest deal. 

'The backstop is still there, it's a customs union in all but name and it puts Brussels firmly in control of our destiny,' he said. 

'There's nothing new or bold about this bad buffet of non-Brexit options. 

'At a time when people are deserting the main parties this is the PM's response, to do all she can to defy the result of the referendum. 

Mr Rees-Mogg tweeted: 'The Prime Minister's latest proposals are worse than before and would leave us bound deeply in to the EU. It is time to leave on WTO terms.' 

Conservative MP and Brexiteer Charlie Elphicke slammed the deal as a 'dog's breakfast' that he could not support, despite voting for Mrs May's deal last time. 

He said: 'This is even more of a dog's breakfast than the last deal, it is not Brexit and I won't be supporting it. 

'The backstop customs union is still at the heart of the deal, preventing us from agreeing trade deals with the fasting growing economies in the world.'  

Theresa May pictured leaving No10 by the back door after intense talks with the Cabinet today

Andrea Leadsom (pictured today) has hit back at the Chancellor Philip Hammond by saying that Britain must leave the EU on October 31 whatever happens

Labour MP Wes Streeting tweeted: 'Lots of us have been very clear that the PM's deal can pass on the condition that the people get to decide through a referendum.

'That's not what the PM is promising I'm afraid. 'Will look at the detail first, but on that basis it's unlikely I'll vote for the Bill at Second Reading.' 

Jeremy Corbyn also made clear that he would order MPs to oppose the Bill. 

'The Prime Minister's proposal tonight seems to be largely a rehash of the government's position in the cross party talks that failed to reach a compromise last week,' he said. 

Despite signing off the attempt to push the Brexit Bill through, Cabinet is already at war over what happens after Mrs May is ousted - with open leadership jostling. 

Philip Hammond is warning in a speech tonight that Brexiteer Tories have 'no mandate' for crashing out of the EU. 

But Mr Leadsom hit back at the Chancellor in an interview by saying that Britain must leave the EU on October 31 at all costs.

Downing Street is pinning its hopes on persuading Labour MPs in Brexit areas to rebel against Jeremy Corbyn.

But with Tories switching sides, dozens would be needed to get the legislation past its first major parliamentary obstacle.   

Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay has said that the Government must now 'prepare for No Deal' if MPs throw out Mrs May's deal for a fourth time. 

Mr Barclay has the backing of new Defence Secretary Penny Mordaunt and Leader of the House of Commons Ms Leadsom, who said today that a customs union demanded by Labour would not be acceptable to her and stressed the need to be prepared for a no-deal Brexit.

She said she would only support the Bill 'so long as it continues to be leaving the European Union' - something she defined as being outside the single market and the customs union.

Ms Leadsom told BBC Radio 4's Today: 'I continue to support the Prime Minister to get her Withdrawal Agreement Bill through. It is leaving the European Union and so long as it continues to be leaving the European Union, I continue to support it.

'What I do think is that for any negotiation to succeed, you have to be prepared to walk away.'

She added: 'I would like us to have a deal but if we get to the end of October and it's not possible to get a deal, leaving the EU is the most important thing'. 

By contrast, Mr Hammond will tonight use a keynote speech to blast Tory leadership candidates including Boris Johnson, saying those advocating No Deal are 'hijacking the result of the referendum'. 

Rory Stewart, the new international development secretary, said No Deal must come off 'off the table' for god and so should a second referendum.

Cabinet minister Amber Rudd (pictured today) has warned against the party lurching towards 'extremist forces' to combat the rise of the Brexit Party and is opposed to a No Deal ministers such as Liz Truss would 

Health Secretary Matt Hancock arrives with caramel waffles to attend the weekly meeting of the Cabinet

Secretary of State for International Development Rory Stewart has said that No Deal should be taken off the table completely - Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt disagrees

In a podcast for the ConservativeHome site, Mr Rees-Mogg was asked about his intentions in the looming Brexit vote.

'The reason for voting for it (the PM's Brexit deal) at the third go was so that we could leave broadly on time. That has been lost,' he said.

Mr Rees-Mogg said Mrs May's deal was 'very bad'. 'As we have already delayed, it is hard to see any point in having a Bill which fails ro avoid the European election, fails to get us out in time, fails to get the process going in the way that might have worked with a new leader coming in.'   

The move is more evidence that Mrs May's support is slipping away, leaving her on track for an even heavier rejection than in March - when the third effort to get her deal was rejected by 58 votes.

Mr Rees-Mogg said he had backed the Brexit package previously so the UK could get out 'broadly on time', but it would now be a 'weight around the neck' of the next Tory leader.

Former Brexit Secretary David Davis has also announced he will oppose the Bill when it comes to a vote, expected to be on June 7. 

Boris Johnson has yet to say whether he will switch sides, with leadership rivals insisting the decision will be a 'massive test' of whether he is fit to take the top job. 

In a speech to the CBI tonight, the Chancellor will round on those who claim leaving without a deal is the only 'legitimate Brexit'.

He will say: 'On the populist Right, there are those who claim the only outcome that counts as a truly legitimate Brexit is to leave with No Deal.

'Let me remind them – the 2016 Leave campaign was clear that we would leave with a deal.

'So to advocate for No Deal is to hijack the result of the referendum, and in doing so, knowingly to inflict damage on our economy and living standards, because all the preparation in the world will not avoid the consequences of No Deal.'

He will warn that if MPs do not pass a deal soon, there is a 'real risk' of the next PM 'abandoning the search for a deal, and shifting towards seeking a damaging No Deal exit as a matter of policy'.

Fellow Cabinet minister Amber Rudd warned yesterday against the party lurching towards 'extremist forces' to combat the rise of the Brexit Party. She also took a thinly-veiled swipe at Mr Johnson and others countenancing a No Deal Brexit, saying: 'We must... take on the falsehoods that are presented as simple choices.'

Miss Rudd was speaking ahead of the launch of the One Nation Caucus group of Tory MPs, which opposes candidates who back No Deal. Sir Nicholas Soames, another founder of the 60-strong group, said Tories must resist demands from the party's 'lunatic fringe'.

During a Cabinet meeting today, ministers will debate whether to allow Labour's demand for the UK to continue to accept new EU laws on workers' rights and environmental standards after Brexit.

Yesterday, former work and pensions secretary Esther McVey became the first leadership candidate to make it clear she was willing to quit the EU without a deal.

She said it was 'essential' that Britain left as scheduled, and insisted there must be 'no more backsliding', adding: 'If it means without a deal, we'll be out.'

Her fellow candidates Boris Johnson, Dominic Raab, Andrea Leadsom and Liz Truss are also expected to confirm they are serious about the option of No Deal if the EU refuses to budge. 

Meanwhile, potential leadership hopefuls went head to head in a 'Future of the Party' debate.

Liz Truss, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, said she would 'maybe' run for the top job. She added that members should be 'proud' to be Conservative, claiming: 'If we don't look like a fun party, no one else is going to vote for us.'

Health Secretary Matt Hancock refused to rule out running and said the Tories would be 'toast' if they called an election before Brexit.

Former Brexit Secretary Mr Raab warned that this week's European election results would give 'a hint of what is to come if we don't understand what happens if you don't keep your promises'.

Brexit minister James Cleverly told the group: 'The time you start running in a race is just after the starting gun, not just before.' 

Boris Johnson scrambles to ease Tory fears about his hard Brexit plans amid claims allies could SUE MPs if they block him from leadership battle

Boris Johnson (pictured campaigning in London last week) is scrambling to ease Tory moderate fears about his hard Brexit plans

Boris Johnson is scrambling to ease Tory moderate fears about his hard Brexit plans as the battle to succeed Theresa May heats up.

The former foreign secretary hailed a set of 'One Nation Conservative' principles drawn up by dozens of moderate MPs, insisting on Twitter: 'Agree with all of this.'

The intervention comes as a 'Stop Boris' campaign gathers pace in the Parliamentary party, with many MPs concerned that he would shift the Tories dramatically to the right. 

Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd - a key Remainer in the Cabinet - fuelled talk of a 'dream ticket' alliance with Mr Johnson by liking his tweet. 

A source in the One Nation Tory bloc told the BBC's Newsnight: 'We want candidates to work with us to shape policy moving forward. Not just on Brexit but on everything.

'The whole contest will be a big test for Boris to prove he actually can unite the party in the way he says he can.' 

Boris Johnson hailed a set of 'One Nation Conservative' principles drawn up by dozens of moderate MPs, insisting on Twitter: 'Agree with all of this.'

Mr Johnson prospects could also have been boosted by a poll of Labour activists suggesting he is the opponent they most fear at the next election

Mr Johnson prospects could also have been boosted by a poll of Labour activists suggesting he is the opponent they most fear at the next election. 

However, the rising Tory tensions were underlined by claims that allies of Mr Johnson are ready to launch a legal challenge if MPs block him from the final ballot. 

Under the contest's rules, MPs whittle the candidates down to two, with activists choosing the winner. 

But an ally of Mr Johnson told the Sun: 'We have legal advice that was drawn up for Boris that proves if members want a chance to vote on him in big numbers, MPs and CCHQ cannot stop that.' 

Aides to Mr Johnson denied any knowledge of the legal advice, saying it was 'total nonsense'. 

Around 60 Tory MPs have signed up to the One Nation principles, which were drawn up by Mrs May's former policy chief George Freeman.