Redwood: EU emergency brake 'a sick joke'

Eurosceptic former minister John Redwood says the idea of an emergency brake on benefits is an "insult to the UK" and "not a serious offer".

The Conservative MP told the Today programme the plan being proposed as part of David Cameron's renegotiation of Britain's relationship with Europe fell "well short" of the need for Britain to regain control of its borders.

He said Britain would have to beg other countries in certain circumstances to impose a temporary halt on benefits, a plan he dismissed as a "sick joke".

He said the prime minister had "got to do better than offer feeble emergency brake that won’t work". Mr Redwood said he believed the best answer is for Britain to leave the EU.