The one paragraph that shows David Cameron's EU plans have gone off the rails

The PM said proposals to force EU migrants to wait four years before they can access in-work benefits were described as an 'absolute requirement' at the election but now he says he is 'open to different ways of dealing with the issue'

David Cameron is set say that EU regulations will "hold back our ability to trade” (Getty)

David Cameron's pledge to make EU migrants wait four years before they can claim in-work benefits has been significantly watered down since his cast iron guarantee at the election just seven months ago.

In a letter to the European Council president Donald Tusk setting out his key demands for his renegotiation of Britain's membership of the EU Mr Cameron wrote that he "understood how difficult" the issue was for other member states and added that he was looking forward to "discussing these proposals further so we can find a solution".

He went further in a speech before the publication of the letter, saying: "I am open to different ways of dealing with this issue."

This contrasts markedly with his words in the Conservative party manifesto at the election - published just seven months ago.

"Changes to welfare to cut EU migration will be an absolute requirement in the renegotiation," the Tories pledged voters in May. "We have already banned housing benefit for EU jobseekers, and restricted other benefits, including Jobseeker's allowance.

"We will insist that EU migrants who want to claim tax credits and child benefit must live here and contribute to our country for a minimum of four years. This will reduce the financial incentive for lower-paid, lowerskilled workers to come to Britain."

And in November last year the Prime Minister promised voters that he would "insist" on these changes during the renegotiation.

"I will insist that, in the future, those who want to claim tax credits and child benefit must live here and contribute to our country for a minimum of 4 years," he said in a key speech designed to combat the threat posed by Ukip at the election.