Former Conservative leader Michael Howard backs David Cameron's position in an interview on the Today programme:

"There isn't going to be any further transfer of power… [so] the referendum issue doesn't arise.

"I would like to see a rebalancing of powers between Britain and Brussels, and I hope that at some point we can return to that agenda.

"But what we have to do is to make sure that within the present framework, British interests are safeguarded.

"That is our challenge and I am sure it is a challenge that the prime minister will meet and overcome.

"What is pressing at the moment is the need to help the eurozone overcome its crisis, because the world economy is in a very fragile state and a disorderly break-up of the eurozone could bring about an economic catastrophe on a global scale."