EC president warns Cameron not to alienate EU nations

David Cameron has hit back at criticisms from outgoing European Commission President José Manuel Barroso, saying he is very clear that his "boss" is the British people.

The Prime Minister said he would deliver a referendum on EU membership and address concerns over immigration despite warnings from Mr Barroso that Britain would not even retain "marginal relevance" if it leaves and could be making a "historic mistake".

Speaking during a visit to the Ford factory in Dagenham, Mr Cameron said: "What we need in Britain is a renegotiation of our relationship with the European Union and then a referendum where the British people decide do we stay in this reformed organisation or do we leave it."

He added: "I'm very clear about who the boss is, about who I answer to and it's the British people - they want this issue fixed, they are not being unreasonable about it, and I will fix it."

European Commission President José Manuel Barroso is set to make a plea to Britain to stay in the European Union - warning that leaving would be a "historic mistake".

You can watch the speech - which will be his last in Britain before the end of his tenure - live below or on the Chatham House website from 8.30am.

Prime Minister David Cameron could make a "historic mistake" by alienating eastern European nations as he bids to renegotiate the UK's links with Brussels, the outgoing president of the European Commission is set to warn.

Jose Manuel Barroso is expected to say that individual countries like the UK could not keep "even marginal relevance" in a globalised world without the weight of combined EU members states behind them.

It comes after Barrosso warned that Cameron's hopes of curbing EU immigration could be illegal.

The outgoing European Commission President, Jose Manuel Barroso, has poured cold water on the idea of the UK introducing a cap on EU migration.

Conservative chairman Grant Shapps called the remarks "extraordinary" and "wrong", arguing that David Cameron had a proven record of renegotiating the UK's position in the EU.

ITV News Political Correspondent Emily Morgan reports.

Read: EU exit would leave UK with 'zero' influence