Almost all European leaders privately back Britain's push to end migrants 'popping' between countries in search of higher benefits, Iain Duncan Smith has claimed.

The Work and Pensions Secretary said developed countries in the European Union, including Germany, wanted to see an end to the welfare free-for-all.

He insisted David Cameron's demand for a ban on claiming in-work benefits for four years was still winnable, despite Downing Street admitting a deal will not be agreed this month.

Almost all European leaders privately back Britain's push to end migrants 'popping' between countries in search of higher benefits, Iain Duncan Smith has claimed

Mr Cameron has promised to renegotiate Britain's membership of the EU before holding an in-out referendum by 2017.

He had hoped to secure agreement at a Brussels summit this month, which would clear the way for a vote next spring.

But in the wake of the Paris terror attacks and amid opposition from eastern European countries to benefit curbs, the PM conceded last week that it would be the New Year before he could strike deal.

Mr Cameron has put tackling immigration at the heart of his negotiations with Brussels over Britain's membership of the EU.

But in a speech last month he signalled retreat on his central call for EU migrants to be banned from claiming benefits for four years after arriving in Britain, saying he was now 'open to different ways of dealing with this issue'.

Tory Eurosceptic MPs rounded on the PM, dismissing his list of demands as 'thin gruel' which would fail to impress the British people.

The European Commission said the four-year benefit ban amounted to 'direct discrimination between EU citizens' and was 'highly problematic'.

But Mr Duncan Smith today insisted the 'Prime Minister has made it crucial to himself in the sense that he's always talked about what we have to deliver and it's quite important'.

The Work and Pensions Secretary said developed countries in the European Union, including Germany, wanted to see an end to the welfare free-for-all

BATTLE OVER GIVING 17 AND 17-YEARS A VOTE IN REFERENDUM The government will this week seek to over-turn a House of Lords move to give 16 and 17-year-olds a vote in the EU referendum. Labour and Lib Dem peers united last month to defeat the government on the plan, which followed a lower voting age in the Scottish independence referendum in 2014. But David Cameron is against the plan, and Tory MPs will be whipped to vote against it. Pat McFadden, Labour's shadow Europe minister, said: 'When the EU Referendum bill returns to the Commons this week, Labour will press the case for 16 and 17 year olds to be allowed to vote in the referendum. Their rights to live, work and study anywhere in the EU are very much on the ballot paper. 'This referendum will decide the future direction of the UK for a generation. It is right that our country's young people have a say in our country's future.' Advertisement

He told BBC One's Andrew Marr show: 'The Prime Minister has made it clear from the beginning that he's not prepared to come back with a deal he did not think would deliver on his commitments and would benefit Britain.

'He's been after reforming the European Union, changing things in the welfare area and making sure that we get a much better system in Europe for us as well as for the rest of the European Union.

'I can tell you actually - I do go round a lot, I was in Germany not so long ago, talk to the French – when you get down to it behind closed doors almost every single developed country, particularly developed country in Europe, actually wants to see some kind of end to the idea of people just for popping around and taking benefits in different countries.

'They know that. Germany's very strong about that.'

Mr Duncan Smith - one of the most Eurosceptic members of the Cabinet - rejected suggestions that it was a sign that Mr Cameron's negotiating strategy was crumbling.

'The delay, which everyone has said is a sign of weakness, is a sign of strength,' he added.

'It says the Prime Minister is determined not just to come back with any deal but to come back with a deal that he knows he can sell to the British people. That speaks volumes about his determination.'

Recent polls suggest that more people now want to leave the EU than stay, a change from a longstanding lead for remain

Mr Duncan Smith refused to be drawn on suggestions that ministers could get round objections that the four-year benefit ban is discriminatory to other EU nationals by extending it to British nationals as well.

'This has never been part of our proposal. We will wait and see what is decided,' he said.

He added: 'I am in the business with the Prime Minister of delivering what the Prime Minister said he wanted at the time of the election through the manifesto. What he has said clearly to his European colleagues is we need to do this.'

The Work and Pensions Secretary, who is widely thought to be in favour of leaving the EU, said he would make up his mind which way to vote in the referendum once he saw what deal Mr Cameron was finally able to achieve.

'At the moment when the deal is on the table, that is when you assess whether you think it is in the benefit of Britain to stay in the EU or leave,' he said.