Shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander tells the Today programme Labour would also have used Britain's veto – but done so from a stronger position:

"I regret how badly David Cameron's negotiations strategy has left Britain down.

"Britain is more isolated at any point since we jointed the European Community. This outcome is not a sign of strength from the prime minister, it is a sign of weakness.

"It was a direct consequence of a misconceived and shambolic negotiating strategy.

"Equally it is not in Britain's interest to be isolated… we would have built alliances with other countries across Europe."