Said reforms sought by PM 'don't come anywhere near' to what is needed

As many as 100 Tory MPs will line up against the Prime Minister and campaign for Britain to leave the EU, it was claimed last night.

Graham Brady, the chairman of the 1922 committee of backbench Tory MPs, said he expected 100 MPs to vote against Mr Cameron's deal.

He said: 'The reforms that are being sought by the Prime Minister, while all welcome changes, don't come anywhere near to that fundamental reform of the nature of our relationship with the EU.'

Mr Brady – one of the most senior figures in the Tory party – told this week's new Statesman magazine that the UK 'has got to redefine its relationship in a meaningful way.'

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Graham Brady, the chairman of the 1922 committee of backbench Tory MPs, said reforms being sought by David Cameron (pictured) 'don't come anywhere near' to what is needed

He added: 'I've always thought that a clear majority of Conservative members of parliament are deeply unhappy about the shape of the current European Union. And probably a clear majority would have a preference of leaving the EU as it is today.

'I suspect that roughly 100 will declare that they're campaigning for Britain to leave. But many more will be very sympathetic to that objective.'

Mr Brady turned up the pressure for the Prime Minister to hold an early Cabinet meeting once his deal is secured in Brussels next Friday.

Eurosceptics will remain banned from speaking out until the meeting takes place – potentially handing Mr Cameron 72 hours in which to 'sell' his deal unanswered.

'What is important is that once the deal is done things should be brought to a conclusion as rapidly as possible.

'I hope there will be a cabinet meeting, if not on the Friday after the Prime Minister returns, then on the Saturday morning, [so] that the cabinet can agree its collective position and also agree that those who don't share that view are free to say so and free to campaign.'

Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond (pictured) said that a deal on the so-called emergency brake on welfare payments to migrants was close

In evidence to MPs yesterday, Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said that a deal on the so-called emergency brake on welfare payments to migrants was close.

Mr Hammond, who met foreign ministers from the EU's 27 other member states last week, said: 'I think we have got the balance about right.

'Broadly the mood was that those countries that could have been expected to be critical were impressed with the way the European Council had found a solution which addressed the UK's needs without trampling their cherished principles.'

Mr Hammond surprised MPs on the Commons European scrutiny committee by revealing that the Government does not believe any of the changes negotiated by Mr Cameron require treaty change to take effect.

Speaking in January last year, before the General Election, Mr Cameron said his demands were so far-reaching they would require 'proper, full-on treaty change'.

But Mr Hammond told MPs yesterday: 'Nothing in this package requires treaty change.'

Mr Brady turned up the pressure for the Prime Minister to hold an early Cabinet meeting once his deal is secured in Brussels next Friday

He insisted the changes would still be legally binding, and said the European Court of Justice would have to 'take account' of the deal when ruling on clashes between the UK and Brussels.

But MPs questioned how the changes could be binding if they were not laid down in the EU's treaties.

Former Labour minister Kate Hoey said the fact treaty change was no longer needed demonstrated the 'minimal' nature of the deal.