National parliaments to get new veto powers on EU laws

National parliaments will get new powers to block "unwanted" EU law as part of the UK's renegotiations with Brussels, Downing Street sources say.

To trigger the so-called "red card", at least 55% of the EU's national parliaments would have to join forces.

The measure is expected to be included in the draft deal being presented by EU Council president Donald Tusk.

The Vote Leave campaign said it was a "trivial" proposal which would do little to restore power to the UK.

But Downing Street sources said David Cameron had "delivered on a manifesto commitment" to secure the "explicit agreement", which could be activated up to 12 weeks after a new law had been proposed.

Tusk's draft agreement, to be put forward on Tuesday, follows months of talks between UK and EU officials.

It has not received final agreement from other EU leaders, who will gather for a summit on 18 and 19 February. If agreement is secured at the summit, it could pave the way for the UK's in/out referendum to be held in June.

But Tusk warned of "outstanding issues" as he announced his plan to circulate the draft "new settlement".

These are thought to include objections to Cameron's bid to curb the welfare entitlement of EU migrants.

He has proposed denying in-work benefits to all EU migrants until they have been in the UK for four years, saying this would reduce high levels of immigration to the UK.