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Cameron hails deal to give UK 'special status' in EU – live David Cameron gives press conference on new deal for Britain – live
(35 minutes later)
10.27pm GMT
22:27
Cameron says Britain would be stronger within a reformed EU. Labour’s Frank Field does not believe the prime minister has done enough.
Labour's Frank Field says he will be campaigning to leave the EU as Cameron has not managed to regain control of borders
10.25pm GMT
22:25
Cameron also acknowledges the reports that some of his cabinet colleagues are likely to abandon him, saying the referendum campaign will not be fought on party lines. He says that some in his own party will be among those to reject his call to stay in a reformed EU.
10.24pm GMT
22:24
Cameron lauds the deal. He says it says it guarantees:
Cameron says Britain would have to agree to any rolling back of the deal. “When I said I wanted reforms that are legally binding ... that is what I’ve got.”
And he calls the renegotiation a “live and let live” deal but says it is a “milestone, not and end point”. The deal will be presented to the cabinet on Saturday and to parliament on Monday.
Updated
at 10.25pm GMT
10.12pm GMT
22:12
The prime minister is presenting the deal he has agreed with his EU counterparts to the press. Watch above.
Updated
at 10.13pm GMT
10.07pm GMT
22:07
Ewen MacAskill
The special guest winding up the Grassroots Out launch in London, George Galloway, was a controversial choice: one of Britain’s most high-profile and controversial leftwingers in front of an audience that appeared to be dominated by Conservatives and Ukip members.
It was too much for some of them. There was booing and some even walked out.
Galloway, in a typically loud and boisterous speech, dismissed the EU as a rich man’s club and committed the Respect party to joining the GO coalition. He made a case against too many easy labels, such as nationalist and Little Englander, attached to the anti-EU movement.
“I want to nail the lie that to be on this side of the argument is to wallow in nationalism. As a matter of fact, I hate nationalism,” Galloway said, recalling his part in opposing Scottish independence. He wanted to trade with the Commonwealth and elsewhere around the world. “That is internationalism.”
Updated
at 10.14pm GMT
9.58pm GMT
21:58
Details emerge of renegotiated terms of Britain's EU membership
My colleagues in Brussels – Nicholas Watt, Ian Traynor and Jennifer Rankin – write to say that Cameron’s success in renegotiating the terms of Britain’s EU membership will pave the way for him to announce a referendum on 23 June.
The key changes will mean that:
• A proposed emergency brake on EU migrants claiming in work benefits will last for seven years. It will apply on an individual for no more than four years, and will be phased out after the first year. But the UK will be allowed to apply the overall restrictions for seven years.
• Restrictions on child benefit for EU migrants will kick in at a reduced rate – indexed to the rate of a migrant’s home country – for new migrants with immediate effect. Existing EU migrants will be paid at the lower rate from 2020. Eastern European countries had hoped to exempt existing migrants altogether.
• Britain has a specific opt-out from the EU’s historic commitment to forge an ‘ever closer union of the peoples of Europe’.
• One country – effectively Britain – will have the right to impose a handbrake to refer contentious financial regulation to a meeting of EU leaders in the European Council.
Updated
at 10.05pm GMT
9.46pm GMT9.46pm GMT
21:4621:46
Now that David Cameron has secured a deal, he begins the task of selling it to the British publicNow that David Cameron has secured a deal, he begins the task of selling it to the British public
I have negotiated a deal to give the UK special status in the EU. I will be recommending it to Cabinet tomorrow. Press conference shortly.I have negotiated a deal to give the UK special status in the EU. I will be recommending it to Cabinet tomorrow. Press conference shortly.
9.43pm GMT9.43pm GMT
21:4321:43
Reporters at the Grassroots Out event are saying that George Galloway - recently revealed as the special guest speaker - is not getting the best of receptions:Reporters at the Grassroots Out event are saying that George Galloway - recently revealed as the special guest speaker - is not getting the best of receptions:
And yes, that is @Tim_Aker walking out as Galloway starts ... pic.twitter.com/GYa8n8VwqYAnd yes, that is @Tim_Aker walking out as Galloway starts ... pic.twitter.com/GYa8n8VwqY
Security guards told by organisers to shut the doors to stop people leaving the hall as @georgegalloway speaksSecurity guards told by organisers to shut the doors to stop people leaving the hall as @georgegalloway speaks
9.39pm GMT9.39pm GMT
21:3921:39
Goodnight to second referendum: special UK deal will 'cease to exist' if UK votes to leave EUGoodnight to second referendum: special UK deal will 'cease to exist' if UK votes to leave EU
9.38pm GMT9.38pm GMT
21:3821:38
Ewen MacAskillEwen MacAskill
Nigel Farage told the Grassroots Out conference that a deal had been reached. In his first reaction, he said: “Dave’s deal is not worth the paper it is written on.”Nigel Farage told the Grassroots Out conference that a deal had been reached. In his first reaction, he said: “Dave’s deal is not worth the paper it is written on.”
The response to the conference to Farage’s announcement was muted, in part because there is still no detail, as Farage acknowledged, and no official British confirmation. “This deal that has been done does not address the fundamental issues that the British people care about. It does not address the issues that our parliament is not able to overrule bad EU law.” Other issues were the £55m-a-day cost of membership and the inability to control migration.The response to the conference to Farage’s announcement was muted, in part because there is still no detail, as Farage acknowledged, and no official British confirmation. “This deal that has been done does not address the fundamental issues that the British people care about. It does not address the issues that our parliament is not able to overrule bad EU law.” Other issues were the £55m-a-day cost of membership and the inability to control migration.
“And yet, after a cabinet meeting at 9 o’clock tomorrow morning, there will be a press conference and the prime minister will tell you he has won this amazing deal.”“And yet, after a cabinet meeting at 9 o’clock tomorrow morning, there will be a press conference and the prime minister will tell you he has won this amazing deal.”
The surprise guest completing the night is George Galloway.The surprise guest completing the night is George Galloway.
9.34pm GMT
21:34
European council president Donald Tusk says deal done
Well, this would seem to clear up some of the confusion, somewhat:
Deal. Unanimous support for new settlement for #UKinEU
9.29pm GMT
21:29
Ewen MacAskill
The position of Jeremy Corbyn and shadow chancellor John McDonnell on the European Union has been ambiguous. But Labour MP Kate Hoey placed them firmly in the sceptical camp.
Speaking at the Grassroots Out conference, Hoey, a co-founder of the movement, said some of her Labour colleagues, including Corbyn and McDonnell, “believe, like me, that our membership of the EU is incompatible with Labour values.”
She reeled off a string of senior Labour figures in the past who opposed the European Union. “So, that is why it is so incredibly disappointing somehow, somewhere in the Labour machinery, Jeremy and John have been stifled.” She expressed hope that, in the next month or two, they will come out.
Conservative MP David Davis said about 700 people had been locked out of the conference because there were already too many inside; a tribute to the organisers.
9.27pm GMT
21:27
So, no confirmation on a deal and little detail on what one might entail. However, Bloomberg have tweeted this:
EU understood to have given David Cameron a 7-year "brake" on welfare payments https://t.co/pPMAIf22Q4 #EUsummit pic.twitter.com/sepMpHaSjj
9.23pm GMT
21:23
The Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka says a deal has been agreed by European Union leaders to keep Britain in the 28-nation bloc that represents a “decent compromise”.
However, Donald Tusk’s spokesperson has cast doubt on the claims.
Still no agreement on new settlement for #UKinEU at "British dinner" of #EUCO
Updated
at 9.23pm GMT
9.11pm GMT
21:11
'Deal reached' claims
And as the delegates sit down to eat, a suggestion from the Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė that a deal has been done.
Agreement #UKinEU done. Drama over.
No details yet on the terms but we’ll bring you them as they come in.
Updated
at 9.16pm GMT
8.58pm GMT
20:58
The Maltese prime minister Joseph Muscat has posted the menu for the English dinner. “Not exactly fish and chips”, he says.
Not exactly fish and chips! #EUCO resumes. Hopefully we can iron out deal tonight -JM pic.twitter.com/IFoOECOPQo
Updated
at 8.58pm GMT
8.52pm GMT
20:52
Ewen MacAskill
The first 90 minutes of the Grassroots Out conference has been flat so far, short of ‘big names’.
The ‘biggest name’ has been veteran Eurosceptic MP Sir Bill Cash, who reminded the audience that he was one of the Conservative rebels who voted against the Maastricht Treaty 25 years ago. He delivered a speech that probably sounded much like the one 25 years ago: the fight was for our grandchildren but also our grandparents who had fought for British independence. “We will fight and fight again,” he vowed.
Trade unionist John Boyd predicted a major trade union will come out in favour of GO on Monday.
The main interest of a largely-bored press crew inside the conference is trying to find out who designed GO’s lurid tie. One of the speakers said it was deliberate so it would provide a talking point.
The other main interest is in trying to guess the ‘special guest’ who will provide the finale, following on from Kate Hoey, David Davis and Nigel Farage.
8.50pm GMT
20:50
The delegates have finally sat down to an English dinner, Donald Tusk’s spokesperson has said.
The "English dinner" has started. #UKinEU #EUCO pic.twitter.com/ixRE9uIVGE
According to Reuters, officials and diplomats have said that a draft agreement is almost ready that could be approved over a potentially brief meal. However, there remain snags that could hold up proceedings. So, plenty for them chew over.
Negotiations were supposed to have been wrapped up by breakfast time. Here’s Kate Lyons’ guide to how an English breakfast became and English lunch and now an English dinner with no deal in place.
8.28pm GMT
20:28
Over at the Grassroots Out conference in London, it seems some would-be attendees have been shut out - including ITV’s political editor Robert Peston.
ITN colleague @peston locked out of Grassroots Out rally along with supporters. Room at capacity, security say. pic.twitter.com/WHWgG5iePC
7.56pm GMT
19:56
Shakespearean quotes, gift-wrapped editions of Beatrix Potter, Belgian surrealism... plus a large helping of backstabbing and brinkmanship.
It could only be the last 48 hours in Brussels, from where the Guardian’s Ian Traynor has filed this account of events as they unfolded. A snippet:
The British side let it be known that Cameron sought to woo the federalist Michel by presenting him with a French edition of the works of Beatrix Potter for a new-born daughter.
In fact, the books were gifted a fortnight ago during the international Syria conference in London.
Enda Kenny, the taoiseach and Cameron’s biggest champion at the summit, took to quoting Macbeth along the lines of if this had to be done, best to get it done quickly. Macbeth, of course, was talking of murder, a point perhaps lost on most of Kenny’s audience.
Read on here..