Pat McFadden MP, Labour’s Shadow Europe Minister, commenting on reports that Cameron is seeking to opt-out of the European Working Time Directive, said:

“There will be a lot of speculation about what the Prime Minister is trying to negotiate but as with much of the Government’s European agenda this looks more like an attempt to keep different factions of the Conservative Party on board than to make a case for reform in the national interest.

"Reform of the working time directive has been under discussion in the EU for many years but tearing up rights at work is no basis for winning support to stay in a reformed EU, which is what the Prime Minister claims is his objective.”