Cameron deal isn’t legally binding, says top eurocrat

DAVID Cameron’s renegotiation with Brussels is nothing more than a deal ‘hammered out down the local bazaar’, a senior EU figure has said.

The Prime Minister spent months meeting European leaders to come to his agreement, which he claims gives Britain a ‘special status’ in the EU and provides the power to suspend migrants’ benefits.

But Alexander Graf Lambsdorff, vice-president of the European Parliament, said the deal was not legally binding.

He also warned that MEPs may vote down any elements which hamper the EU principle of freedom of movement.

Out campaigners said the comments showed the British people had been ‘hoodwinked’ because the European Parliament could just tear up the deal after the referendum.

Mr Lambsdorff – or Count Lambsdorff, a member of the German aristocracy – sits as an MEP for the country’s liberal Free Democratic Party.

Five years ago he was quoted saying it was a ‘mistake to admit the British into the European Union’.

He said on the EurActiv Ger- many website yesterday that the deal between the European Council and the UK was ‘not legally binding’.

He added: ‘At the moment, the whole thing is nothing more than a deal hammered out down the local bazaar. The EU, however, is a community of law, in which there are regulated responsibilities.’

Mr Lambsdorff said the ‘emergency brake’ idea – which would allow Britain to suspend in- work benefits for EU migrants for four years in times of pressure – went ‘too far’, and could lead to the end of the single market.

For the emergency brake to come into force, the EU directive on free movement has to be modified with the consent of the European Parliament.

Asked if this might be refused, the eurocrat said: ‘I’m sure I will certainly not agree to a change of the directive, as it would restrict one of our basic fundamental freedoms.’

Last night employment minister and member of the Leave campaign Priti Patel said: ‘These comments suggest EU politicians entered the renegotiations with profound illintent. They hoped the British people could be hoodwinked into remaining in the EU.’