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| EU talks will go down to the wire, says Philip Hammond | EU talks will go down to the wire, says Philip Hammond |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond has said Britain needs a "robust deal" for staying in the EU, which will only be decided when heads of government meet on Thursday to finalise an agreement. | Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond has said Britain needs a "robust deal" for staying in the EU, which will only be decided when heads of government meet on Thursday to finalise an agreement. |
| "There are still a lot of moving parts in this discussion," Mr Hammond told the Andrew Marr Show. | "There are still a lot of moving parts in this discussion," Mr Hammond told the Andrew Marr Show. |
| He said a draft deal contained "unclear language" and "square brackets". | He said a draft deal contained "unclear language" and "square brackets". |
| The final agreement should provide "clear winds for Britain on national sovereignty", he said. | The final agreement should provide "clear winds for Britain on national sovereignty", he said. |
| Mr Hammond said that in talks over benefits for migrants "we've got a recognition that there can be different treatment [to British nationals] for four years". | Mr Hammond said that in talks over benefits for migrants "we've got a recognition that there can be different treatment [to British nationals] for four years". |
| In so doing, Britain had succeeded in "challenging one of the sacred cows of EU ideology". | In so doing, Britain had succeeded in "challenging one of the sacred cows of EU ideology". |
| "And it's important to us that we are talking about how we are treating them differently rather than whether we can treat them differently," he said. | "And it's important to us that we are talking about how we are treating them differently rather than whether we can treat them differently," he said. |
| EU referendum: US wants 'strong UK in strong EU' | EU referendum: US wants 'strong UK in strong EU' |
| Guide: All you need to know about the referendum | Guide: All you need to know about the referendum |
| He said the government was "still arguing" that treaty change would be the best way of cementing a new relationship with the EU. | He said the government was "still arguing" that treaty change would be the best way of cementing a new relationship with the EU. |
| But Mr Hammond said it was not essential, if European heads of government signed a binding agreement. | But Mr Hammond said it was not essential, if European heads of government signed a binding agreement. |
| "Even if treaty change is agreed, it will be years before that treaty change comes into force," he said. "And once this [deal on Thursday] is agreed we need to see it implemented as soon as possible." | "Even if treaty change is agreed, it will be years before that treaty change comes into force," he said. "And once this [deal on Thursday] is agreed we need to see it implemented as soon as possible." |
| Eurosceptic Labour MP Gisela Stuart said the EU project "was always deeper integration" and Prime Minister David Cameron had not been ambitious enough in the reforms he had sought over membership. | |
| "The bar he set himself was exceptionally low," she told the Marr Show. | |
| "My instincts are this simply isn't good enough and won't serve the British people." | |
| Ms Stuart said she thought voting in the referendum over whether to stay in the EU or leave would "not fall along party lines". | |
| "We will go into the referendum with people coming from all sides and voting in pretty unpredictable ways," she said. | |
| Russia accused over Syria | Russia accused over Syria |
| Asked about Syria, Mr Hammond said the situation in the city of Aleppo was "extremely worrying". | Asked about Syria, Mr Hammond said the situation in the city of Aleppo was "extremely worrying". |
| He accused Russia of "carpet bombing" and carrying out "indiscriminate bombing" of civilian areas. | He accused Russia of "carpet bombing" and carrying out "indiscriminate bombing" of civilian areas. |
| Russia denies hitting civilians and has said it will continue its air attacks, which it says target only "terrorists". | Russia denies hitting civilians and has said it will continue its air attacks, which it says target only "terrorists". |
| On the future of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Mr Hammond said the key question was "whether the Russians are prepared to use their influence to remove him". | On the future of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Mr Hammond said the key question was "whether the Russians are prepared to use their influence to remove him". |
| He said Russian air strikes were causing "attrition" among rebel groups but that the conflict overall was in "a bit of a stalemate". | He said Russian air strikes were causing "attrition" among rebel groups but that the conflict overall was in "a bit of a stalemate". |
| Russian air power was forcing opposition forces to give ground but the Syrian government was unable to take and hold that territory, he added. | Russian air power was forcing opposition forces to give ground but the Syrian government was unable to take and hold that territory, he added. |
| Mr Hammond said the number of "moderate" opposition fighters now stood at 150,000. | Mr Hammond said the number of "moderate" opposition fighters now stood at 150,000. |
| "I wouldn't call them democratic," he said. | "I wouldn't call them democratic," he said. |
| Russia has said other countries should join it in backing the Syrian government. | Russia has said other countries should join it in backing the Syrian government. |
| Mr Hammond's comments come after three days of talks among foreign ministers in Munich about prospects for peace in Syria. | Mr Hammond's comments come after three days of talks among foreign ministers in Munich about prospects for peace in Syria. |
| BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner says that with President Assad and three mainstream rebel groups all vowing to carry on fighting, talks are "in practice, back where they started". | BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner says that with President Assad and three mainstream rebel groups all vowing to carry on fighting, talks are "in practice, back where they started". |