David Cameron said that he had reached a deal to give the UK “special status” in the EU. He also pledged to campaign heart and soul to stay in the EU at a deeply uncertain referendum expected in June. At the summit EU leaders agreed unanimously on a package of measures aimed at keeping Britain in the 28-nation bloc to avoid a potentially disastrous divorce. Mr Cameron said the deal gave Britain “special status” within the EU and that he achieved his goal to impose tough new restrictions on access to the UK welfare system for EU migrants.

After two days of intense wrangling in Brussels, EU leaders determined to try to keep Britain in the union resolved outstanding disputes over migrant workers’ welfare rights and relations between London and the euro zone. Mr Cameron said the deal would make the UK “stronger, safer and better off” as he set out the “once in a generation moment to shape the destiny of our country” at the referendum.

The new deal provides for a seven-year emergency brake on in-work benefits for EU migrant workers, as well as cuts in child benefit for their children living overseas – applicable immediately for new arrivals and from 2020 for the 34,000 existing claimants.