COLCHESTER MP Bernard Jenkin was among a group of backbenchers heavily criticising the Prime Ministers objectives for the renegotiation of the UK’s membership of the European Union.

David Cameron has set out four main points for the renegotion - that the UK be made exempt from the EU commitment of ever closer union, restricting benefit payments for migrants, protection from the UK from eurozome integration and drive for improved competitiveness.

But Mr Jenkin was one of a number of MPs saying this is nowhere near far enough in response to a statement to the House of Commons made by Europe Minister David Lidington.**cor** During the debate Mr Jenkin (Harwich and North Essex) said: “After all the statements made by the Prime Minister, the Foreign Secretary, the former foreign secretary, about being in Europe but not run by Europe, the pledge to restore the primacy of national parliaments, the pledge to get an opt out from the charter of fundamental rights, to restore our borders.

"After all that - is that it? Is that the sum total of the Government's position in the renegotiation?

“Isn't the onus on those who advocate we stay in the European Union to explain why we should put up with being a second tier country in an increasingly centralised European Union, paying more and more and losing more and more control?"

Mr Lidington told the MPs they were “underestimating” what was being suggested.

Afterwards, responding to whether he was disappointed, he said while it was what they had expected it was actually “worse.”

He said the Prime Minister’s renegotiation demands were trivial and would have little effect on the number of migrants coming into the country or the amount of money Britain currently has to pay out to the EU each year.

“It is currently over £10 billion each year. That’s enough to build a new NHS Hospital once every two weeks,” said Mr Jenkin.