Cameron says draft EU deal delivers ‘substantial change’

Prime Minister David Cameron has said a draft deal on reforming the UK’s relationship with the EU delivers the “substantial change” sought.

The deal, published by the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, provides for an “emergency brake” on benefits for migrants, which would come into force immediately after the UK voted to remain in the EU.

However, the scheme would require the agreement of other EU member states and would be “graduated” with more money paid to migrants the longer they stay in the UK.

Mr Cameron’s demand that Britain be exempted from the principle of “ever closer union” would also be enshrined in a future treaty.

Another of Mr Cameron’s demands is a strengthening of the “yellow card” system which allows parliaments to band together to accuse the European Commission of acting beyond its powers.

However, the current system has been seldom used with only a few laws attracting the ire of a significant number of parliaments and does not allow them to block the commission, which has the power to vary, maintain or withdraw the proposal.

According to Downing Street sources, a stronger, red card system, would see a 55 per cent majority of parliaments endowed with the power to block measures, ensuring the commission “cannot just ignore the will of national parliamentarians”.

But Vote Leave chief executive Matthew Elliott dismissed the “red card” proposal, saying: “These gimmicks have been ignored by the EU before and will be ignored again as they will not be in the EU treaty.”

Britain Stronger in Europe, meanwhile, said the proposals would “represent a significant victory for the prime minister and underline that Britain is stronger in Europe”.