David Cameron has warned his MPs that 2012 will be "tougher than the first two years under Thatcher". Cheered by his backbenchers for standing up for Britain in Europe and for a strong PMQs against Ed Miliband, the Prime Minister also revealed he wanted the Labour leader wounded but not replaced. He joked: "Don't worry, I'm not going to finish him off." His remarks came after he delighted his party with PMQs jibes at the Labour leader.

Mr Cameron's words to his backbench 1922 Committee also followed a fresh attack from French President Nicolas Sarkozy for his use of the veto at last week's EU summit. Sarkozy said that Mr Cameron had behaved like "an obstinate kid" during last week's EU summit. The latest broadside from the French President came as other eurozone states tried to reach out to the UK to find a lasting solution for the EU crisis.

Downing Street refused to comment on President Sarkozy's remarks directly, but the Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "Our focus was pursuing the national interest."

French magazine Canard Enchaine today quotes President Sarkozy boasting about his summit triumph. "It's the first time that we have said 'no' to the English. Cameron behaved like an obstinate kid, with a single obsession: protecting the City, which wants to carry on behaving like an off-shore centre. No country supported him. That is the mark of a political defeat."

President Sarkozy is also quoted as saying: ""Objectively, it was a good coup. I manoeuvered well," Sarkozy is quoted as saying. "The whole world recognised that my proposal was the only possible course.... The accord will perhaps not put an end to the crisis, but it is a tool for facing up to it. The dynamism of the Franco-German axis enabled us to rally 26 countries."

German President Angela Merkel remained positive on EU-UK relations, saying Britain remains "an important partner in the European Union", although she expressed disappointment that the UK had not signed up to the new accord.

Downing Street has confirmed that David Cameron has spoken with the leaders of Ireland, Czech Republic and Sweden and that "to each the Prime Minister reiterated the UK's position that he had been ready to agree Treaty change for the EU provided the UK secured some modest and practical safeguards to protect the single market." Number 10 confirmed "In each call the leaders agreed to build on their close cooperation on EU issues, especially promoting jobs and growth through the single market."

Nick Clegg earlier insisted that Britain would"re-engage" with Europe following Mr Cameron's veto at last week's EU summit.

The Deputy Prime Minister, addressing a meeting of Liberal Democrats and business leaders, said he was speaking on behalf of the "whole Government" as he sought to underline his pro-European credentials amid claims that the Coalition is more split than ever before.

Mr Clegg said: "As the dust settles on the summit, I stand here on behalf of the whole Coalition Government. The whole Government is determined to re-engage with our European partners, to get back on the front foot and make sure our vital economic interest is properly followed through in the weeks and months ahead."

Writing in the Telegraph David Davis says that voters want to see more action against Europe and says "on the issue of determining our relationship with Europe, last week’s veto was not the end, but only the beginning."