FOR a few minutes in Salzburg the Maybot turned into an exasperated, angry human being.

Eyes jumping from side to side, nostrils flaring and hands gesticulating, the Prime Minister was screaming inside. Her frustration at trying to square the seemingly impossible Brussels circle was clear for all to see.

Perspiring in a sultry press conference room, Theresa May could not hid her anger following the “frank” exchanges she had had minutes earlier with Donald Tusk, the leader of the EU leaders, who publicly and coolly delivered the last rites to her Chequers Plan.

UK diplomatic sources had expected a bust-up but thought it would come at the October 18/19 European Council. The breakdown now at least gives the UK negotiators more time before the very final deadline of mid-November.

The Prime Minister confirmed that the UK was building up a new proposal to unblock the logjam on the Irish border issue.

It is thought this would entail having “regulatory checks” at Irish Sea ports; these are technically different but similar to customs checks. Such checks already exist between Northern Ireland and the British mainland in regard to agricultural products.

The hope must be with this suggestion and the EU’s pledge to “de-dramatise” its own backstop plan, there is a chance that they could meet somewhere in the middle to prevent a hard border with Ireland and avoid a no-deal Brexit.

Yet the key will be not just whether Brussels can accept what many would regard a fudge but also whether the Democratic Unionists, who just so happen provide the PM with her Commons majority, will be able to do so.

The Salzburg rejection now leaves Mrs May looking bruised and battered, seeking friends where few can be found for her compromise. Brexiteers hate it, Remainers hate it, Brussels hates it.

And the timing could not be worse.

In just over a week’s time the Tories gather in Birmingham for what one MP helpfully dubbed a “Brexit bloodbath”.

Various colleagues will be “on manoeuvres,” sensing the smell of political blood, not least Boris Johnson, who has his Chuck Chequers rally before the party leader gives her keynote speech.

Her aides will be making sure there will be plenty of water and cough toffees on the lectern and, instead of letters on the backdrop, there will be a projected message.

If the Maybot can survive the Tory turmoil in Birmingham, there will be just two weeks to reset her plan to try to get the EU27 on board.

Of course, it may be that the old political rouse is being worked here: make things look so desperately bad that when victory is seized from the jaws of defeat at the last moment, the sense of achievement and relief is all the greater.

Or, it could be as bad as it looks.