David Cameron has received an early boost for his EU renegotiation drive after Home Secretary Theresa May said proposals unveiled in Brussels were “a basis for a deal”.
Mrs May who had been tipped as a possible leader of the “out” campaign said that more work needed to be done on the plan set out by European Council president Donald Tusk.
But she said that the proposals did address key UK concerns about the “abuse” of EU free movement rules and the use of European law to block the deportation of foreign criminals.
Although she stopped short of firmly endorsing the proposed deal, her comments will come as a relief to Mr Cameron amid concerns among supporters of his renegotiation drive that she could provide a dangerous focal point for the anti-EU lobby.
At the same time they are likely to disappoint campaigners for Britain to leave the EU who had hoped that Mrs May who had been thought to be sceptical about Mr Cameron’s efforts could provide them with a powerful figurehead.
Earlier, speaking in Chippenham, Wiltshire, the Prime Minister said Britain could be “better off, more secure, more prosperous” in the EU under the terms of the Tusk package.
The plan which offers an “emergency brake” on migrant welfare, protections for non-eurozone states and a legally-binding assurance that the UK is not expected to pursue integration through “ever-closer union” offered Britain “the best of both worlds”, said Mr Cameron.
He added that it gave the country access to the single market and a voice around the table at the European Council while allowing it to remain outside the euro and the Schengen border-free area.
But Brexit campaign group Leave.EU branded the proposals a “fudge and a farce”, while Ukip leader Nigel Farage said they were “truly pathetic No treaty change, no repatriation of powers, no ability to control our own laws, our money or our borders”.
The publication of the Tusk proposals kicks off an intensive period of negotiation with the other 27 EU states ahead of a crunch European Council summit on February 18-19, starting with a visit to Poland and Denmark by Mr Cameron on Friday.