Cameron drops the ball

[Gob]

David Cameron says the draft deal aimed at keeping Britain in the EU will deliver the "substantial change" he has been demanding to how it is run.

But the UK prime minister said there was "detail to be worked on" before a crunch summit on 18-19 February.

The deal, which includes an "emergency brake" on migrant benefits, paves the way for the UK's EU referendum to take place as early as June.

EU exit campaigners said it did not come close to what the PM had promised.

But the prime minister says it is a deal "worth fighting for" and he is launching a fresh round of diplomacy to persuade other EU leaders to sign up to it.


Mr Cameron's proposed four year ban on in-work benefits for EU migrant workers could come into force immediately if the UK votes to remain in the Union.
But it would have to be agreed by other EU nations and it would be "graduated", with more money from tax credits paid to migrants the longer they remain in the UK.
It says Mr Cameron's demand to exempt Britain from the EU principle of "ever closer union" between member states would be written into a future treaty.
There are also measures relating to protection for non-euro countries in the EU, a new way for member states to club together to block some new EU laws and on business regulations.

Did Cameron get changes he wanted?
Migration: The prime minister got his emergency welfare brake. But it is not clear how easy it will be to pull that brake or how long it will last, writes deputy political editor James Landale.

Benefits: While the in-work benefits of EU migrants will be curbed for four years if other countries agree, they will be gradually restored the longer they stay in the UK. EU migrants will be able to send child benefit back home, but would get a lower level if the cost of living in the country where the child is is lower. Mr Cameron had wanted to block all of it.

Sovereignty: The PM has secured a clear legal statement that the UK is not committed to further political integration and that the phrase "ever closer union" cannot be used to integrate the EU further. But it is not yet clear when or how this will be incorporated into the EU treaties. He has also got new powers for national parliaments to block new EU laws but the thresholds are pretty high before those powers can be used.

Competitiveness: The PM has got some language that commits the EU to strengthen the internal market and cut red tape. But they have been promising to do that for years.
Protecting non-euro countries: There will be a new mechanism to get the eurozone to think again about decisions that could hit the City of London.

Security: The PM has got some unexpected gains, making it easier for countries to stop terror suspects coming into the country even if the threat they pose is not imminent. There will also be a crackdown to stop people using sham marriages and other loopholes to gain access to the EU. Read more: Gavin Hewitt on what PM wanted v what he got

[Lord Jim]

And even when he entered in to these "negociations" he didn't even put on the table the most fundamental issue; the supremacy of British Law over the EU Courts...

If Cameron wants to stay in the EU, most of his own party wont support him, (and large portions of other parties as well)

Prime Minister, it is time to admit, at long last, that it will not be possible to negociate a modus vivendi with Brussels that will create the kinds of guarantees for British sovereignty that the majority of the British people will insist upon...

You gave it your best shot; it didn't work...

Time to vote up or down...