‘Shopping list’ of powers to reclaim

A report called for the clawing back of key Brussels controls over justice, labour rules, energy, agriculture and defence.

It also upped the pressure on the Prime Minister by insisting the renegotiated relationship must be put to a referendum.

The Fresh Start project document – put together by MPs Andrea Leadsom, Chris Heaton-Harris and George Eustice – emerged with coalition tensions running high over the issue. The Liberal Democrats have pledged to block any attempt at loosening ties. But Foreign Secretary William Hague, the MP for Richmond, appeared at the launch of the report yesterday evening in what was taken as tacit support for the MPs’ approach.

The document said changes being put in place to cope with the crisis in the eurozone present a major opportunity for the UK to get a better deal. It suggested Britain could insist on a veto for EU financial services regulation in recognition of the City’s importance to our economy.