The European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has described the UK/ EU reform deal as "fair for the UK and fair for the other 27 member states".

A key sticking point - child benefit curbs - will apply to existing claimants from the start of 2020 and to new claimants as soon as new laws have been passed.

The UK will also be able to enact emergency safeguards to protect the City of London, Downing Street said, and EU treaties will be amended to state explicitly that references to the requirement to seek ever-closer union "do not apply to the United Kingdom".