PM: New EU Deal Is Enough For Me To 'Opt In'

David Cameron has said the EU deal proposals "sure would" make him opt in and added the referendum on Britain's membership could be in a "few months".

The Prime Minister said the blueprint of new measures for Britain was a "great deal" and added he had delivered on each of the four demands he had made to EU leaders.

In a speech in Chippenham following the publication of Brussel's offer to the UK, he claimed he had:

:: Won national powers to block EU legislation with a "red card" system allowing 15 countries to club together in opposition

:: Secured tough action on red tape strangling competition with new targets to cut bureaucracy

:: Agreed principles that would mean non-eurozone countries would not be disadvantaged or pay for euro bail-outs

:: Delivered crucial curbs on EU migrant benefits with an "emergency brake" and indexed child benefit payments.

But the proposals were sharply criticised for being a compromise deal and failing to deliver on Mr Cameron's key pledges in full.

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According to Mr Cameron his most significant victory is the "emergency brake" which would kick in the day after the referendum because Brussels concedes that the UK has reached the point where migration is putting too much of a strain on local services.

But it will only be for four years and on a sliding scale, Brussels will control the mechanism to curb benefits and it doesn’t amount to an in-work benefits ban, rather a limit.

In addition, Mr Cameron had promised to stop EU migrants claiming child benefit and sending it back to their children in a home country.

Instead, the deal simply means the UK will pay the benefit at a local rate, tailored to the standard of living in that country.

Outlining his demands to the EU in November Mr Cameron said in a speech: "So we have proposed that people coming to Britain from the EU must live here and contribute for 4 years before they qualify for in work benefits or social housing.

"And that we should end the practice of sending child benefit overseas."

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Mr Cameron denied he was compromising, said he had delivered things people said were "impossible" and claimed they would take "the pressure off immigration".

He said: "This is not a done deal yet. There is a lot more work to be done over these next couple of weeks but I think strong, determined, patient negotiation has achieved a good outcome for Britain.

"Sometimes people say to me: 'If you weren't in the European Union, would you opt to join the European Union?' and today I can give a very clear answer.

"If I could get these terms for British membership I sure would opt in to the European Union because these are good terms and they are different to what other countries have."

European Council president Donald Tusk said the package was "a good basis for a compromise" suggesting the UK might have to bend further.

Boris Johnson, who is likely to be a key figure during the referendum campaign, had earlier said there was "much, much more ... that needs to be done".

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Former defence secretary Liam Fox, a Vote Leave supporter, said the proposals did not "come close" to the changes voters had been promised.

He said: "The very limited set of demands from our Government have been watered down by the EU in every area."

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn rounded on Mr Cameron for failing to give a statement on the draft deal in Parliament, instead giving a speech in Chippenham.

He said Mr Cameron has briefed the press before parliament which showed a "lack of respect for the democratic process".

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The draft proposal will now be considered by EU leaders before a summit meeting on 18 and 19 February when they will attempt to agree a final renegotiation deal.

Mr Cameron will spend the intervening weeks visiting his East European counterparts, who are most firmly opposed to the "emergency brake" benefits ban and starts with a trip to Poland and Denmark on Friday.

If he gets the deal he wants, the Prime Minister is expected to announce there will be a vote on Britain's continued membership of the EU in June – most likely the 23rd.

Mr Cameron has said Cabinet members are free to campaign according to their consciences but only once the renegotiation deal is finalised later this month.

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Leader of the House Chris Grayling as already indicated he could campaign with the Leave campaign. Theresa May and Mr Johnson have yet to give any hint, but both have been wooed by Brexiteers.

The publication of the Tusk document is likely to force MPs to show their position on whether they will side with the leave or remain camps.

An Ipsos Mori poll suggested a fifth of Tory MPs will vote for Brexit regardless of any deal.