David Cameron has dismissed a
proposed "emergency brake" on in-work benefits for EU migrants as "not
good enough" after talks in Brussels.
The plan had been proposed by EU officials to break the deadlock in Mr Cameron's EU renegotiations.He said progress had been made but there was still a "long way to go".
The PM is aiming to get a deal with other EU nations on benefits and three other demands at a summit next month before holding an in/out referendum.
Mr Cameron wants to prevent migrants from other EU nations from claiming tax credits - income supplements paid to those in low-paid work - for four years, which he says will help reduce high levels of immigration to the UK.
'Oliver Twist'
But the ideas is facing resistance from Central European nations, who view it as discriminatory towards their citizens.
EU officials have floated the idea of a temporary ban or "emergency brake", that would be available to all member states, if they can prove their welfare systems are under strain from immigration.
Czech officials said this was the "best solution" and could be imposed within three months of the UK applying for it - but Poland has said its citizens cannot be "denied social benefits" in other EU nations.
Speaking after talks with European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker, Mr Cameron said the "emergency brake" plan "needs more work".
He insisted he wanted to ensure migrants could not receive benefits until they had paid into the system, adding: "We want to end the idea of something for nothing."
Mr Farage accused the prime minister of "fiddling around on the edges" and said the issues being negotiated would not make "any difference at all".
He compared Mr Cameron to Dickens' character Oliver Twist, saying: "For him now to go to the next European summit and to ask for more, it's a little bit like the boy in Oliver going up and saying 'please sir, can we have some more concessions' - it is pathetic."
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